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Supporting Farmers Is Best Defense Against Inflation – Lee

2024 News, Advocacy, Support /

Supporting Farmers Is Best Defense Against Inflation – Lee Amid the approved rice tariff cut and high inflation, AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert “Manoy” T. Lee said that supporting local farmers will effectively address inflation. Speaking at the Kapihan sa QC forum on Sunday, Lee said that while the tariff cut is a way to lower the price of rice to curb inflation and ease the burden of consumers, it must be complemented with stronger support to local farmers which he consider the long term solution to the perennial problem of high food prices. “Sa bawat polisiya ng gobyerno, dapat laging ikonsidera yung ating local food producers, ang ating mga magsasaka. Sila ang aaray dito dahil isang epekto ng pagbaba ng taripa ay pagdagsa ng imported products,” the Bicolano lawmaker said. “Hindi makakasabay o makaka-compete sa pagbaha ng imported products ang ating mga lokal na magsasaka; lalo silang malulugi o di kaya’y malulubog sa utang. Papatayin nito ang kabuhayan ng ating mga magsasaka,” he added. The solon underscored that importation is only a short-term solution, saying, “hindi tayo pwedeng nakaasa lang sa importation. Sa dami ng nangyayari sa ibang mga bansa, tulad ng gyera, sakuna, El Niño, climate change, posibleng tumigil ang ibang bansa sa pag-export. Hindi natin kontrolado ang export policy nila.” The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) board approved on June 3 the new Comprehensive Tariff Program for 2024-2028, which includes reduction of rice tariff for in- and out-quota rates from 35% to 15%. Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), meanwhile, released the May 2024 inflation rate which is at 3.9% from 3.8% the previous month, where food inflation remains as the largest contributor. “Pumalo sa 3.9% ang inflation rate noong Mayo at presyo pa rin ng pagkain ang numero unong humahatak dito pataas. Naniniwala tayo na mas epektibo nating mapapababa ito, hindi sa importasyon, kundi sa dagdag na suporta sa ating mga magsasaka!” Lee said. The lawmaker from Bicol has been pushing for the Cheaper Rice Act, which mandates the Department of Agriculture (DA) and other concerned government agencies to buy local palay with additional P5-P10 than the prevailing farmgate prices. This will ensure increase in income of local farmers while consumers will eventually enjoy lower rice prices in the market. The solon likewise advocates for additional post-harvest facilities and market linkages for farmers through his House Bill (HB) No. 3958 or the “Post-Harvest Facilities Support Act” and HB 3957 or the “Kadiwa Agri-Food Terminal Act.” Lee, who just came recently from a 2-day visit in multiple towns and cities in Bulacan including San Jose del Monte, Sta. Maria, Bocaue, Pandi, Meycauayan, Guiguinto, Malolos, Plaridel and Calumpit, shared that one of the main concerns of farmers are the lack of post-harvest facilities. “Para madagdagan ang kita ng ating mga magsasaka at masiguro ang mas mataas na produksyon, dapat sapat at tuloy-tuloy ang suporta ng gobyerno mula sa pagtatanim, anihan, hanggang sa paghahatid at pagbebenta ng produkto sa merkado,” the solon from Bicol said. “Kawalan ng hustisya kung ang mga magsasakang nagbibigay sa atin ng makakain ay sila pang walang maihain na pagkain sa kanilang pamilya. Our local farmers deserve better so we should demand better for them!” “Kapag may sapat na kita ang mga magsasaka, mas ma-e-engganyo silang palaguin ang kanilang kabuhayan. Sa pagtaas ng kanilang produksyon, dadami ang supply, at bababa ang presyo sa merkado. Makakatipid dito ang bawat pamilya kung saan mas may magagamit na sila sa iba pang pangangailangan, tulad sa pagpapagamot kapag nagkasakit. Sa dagdag na suporta sa mga magsasaka, mangingisda at agricultural workers, Winner Tayo Lahat!” Advocacy Support Share the News! Previous PostNext Post Latest Posts​ 09 Oct 2024 Cheaper Rice now! Cong. Wilbert “Manoy” T. Lee Calls for Efficient Supply Chain to Stabilize Rice Costs​ 09 Oct 2024 Agri Party-List Seeks Reelection, Commits Continued Support for Agri, Vulnerable Sectors 08 Oct 2024 Round-the-Clock Port Operations: Cong. Wilbert “Manoy” T. Lee Pushes for 24/7 Government Services to Lower Rice Prices Categories Activities Advocacy Legislation Support Previous Activities

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Filipino farmers benefiting from improved post-harvest facilities under Manoy Wilbert Lee’s agricultural advocacy.

Amid Agri Products Wastage, Lee Calls For Strengthening Agri Value-Chain, Market Linkages To Ensure Farmers’ Profit

2024 News, Advocacy /

Amid Agri Products Wastage, Lee Calls For Strengthening Agri Value-Chain, Market Linkages To Ensure Farmers’ Profit “Sayang na naman. Paulit-ulit na lang.”  This was how AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee lamented the recent news of Isabela farmers dumping thousands of kilos of unsold mangoes due to the very low price being offered by middlemen and wholesalers.  “Nakalulungkot at talagang nakapanghihinayang ang ganitong balita na pinipili na lang itapon ng ating mga magsasaka ang kanilang ani dahil wala silang mapagbentahan, at kung meron man, lugi pa sila sa gagastusin,” the solon said.  “Pera, pagod at oras ang ipinuhunan dito ng ating mga magsasaka, tapos ang ending, wala silang kikitain ni singko? Walang naiiwan sa kanila, kung meron man, utang,” he added.  According to the Bicolano lawmaker, this has become the grim reality of Filipino farmers and it is an injustice to sit idly while these problems persist. “Paulit-ulit na ang ganitong scenario, may viral video, ma-me-media, tapos magsasabi ng solusyon ang gobyerno. Pero pagkatapos ng ilang buwan, meron na namang mangyayari na kaparehong insidente. Sino ang lalong nakakawawa dito? Hindi pwedeng pang-press release lang ang tulong sa ating mga magsasaka!”, Lee stressed.  “Sariwa pa sa alaala natin yung pinagtatadtad na repolyo sa Benguet para maging pataba at isang truck ng kamatis sa Nueva Vizcaya na itinapon na lang sa gilid ng kalsada dahil sa napakababang bentahan sa merkado. Nandyan din yung P100 kada 5 kilo ng luya sa Nueva Vizcaya, at yung oversupply ng bawang sa Batanes at marami pang produkto na kung hindi man nasasayang at pinamimigay ay ibinebenta na lang nang palugi,” he added.  The solon from Bicol then reiterated his call to strategize and strengthen the country’s agri value chain to avoid wastage or losses along the process. He also underscored the importance of providing market linkages to facilitate the selling of agri products and ensure the income of farmers.  “When we reviewed the 2024 DA budget, P55.97 billion was allotted for pre-harvest activities, while the allocated budget for post-harvest activities is just P16.40 billion,” Lee pointed out.  “Matagal na natin itong ipinapanawagan. Kung mananatiling ganito ang strategy ng gobyerno, talagang uulit lang ang mga problema. We are not saying that we need to cut the budget for pre-harvest activities dahil mahalaga rin ito para mapataas ang produksyon. Kailangan ng sapat at tuloy-tuloy na suporta mula sa pagtatanim, anihan, hanggang sa paghahatid at pagbebenta ng produkto sa merkado,” he added.  Lee renewed his call for the urgent passage of his proposed House Bill No. 3958 or the “Post-Harvest Facilities Support Act”, which mandates the government to fund the construction of warehouses, cold storages, rice mills, transport facilities, dryers, and threshers, among others. He also pushed for the passage of HB No. 3957 or the “Kadiwa Agri-Food Terminal Act” to scale up and institutionalize Kadiwa stores in every city and municipality which serve as a venue for farmers and fisherfolk to sell produce directly to consumers at cheaper prices, liberating them from the control of unscrupulous traders and middlemen.  “Imbes na pagkalugi ang madalas nangyayari kapag may oversupply, baguhin natin ang ending nito kung saan Winner Tayo Lahat. Siguruhin natin na may pagdadalhan at mabebentahan ang mga ani para matiyak ang kita ng mga magsasaka, mas ma-engganyo silang magpatuloy sa pagpapataas ng produksyon, na magpapababa naman sa presyo ng bilihin,” the lawmaker said.  Sa paraang ito, bukod sa maiibsan ang pasanin ng ating mga kababayan, mababawasan din ang pangamba nila sa pagkakasakit, sa takot na lalong malugmok sa kahirapan dahil walang pambili ng gamot o pambayad sa ospital.” “Hindi tayo pwedeng maging manhid sa ganitong trahedya sa kabuhayan ng ating mga magsasaka. Filipino farmers deserve better and we must demand better services for them, our food security soldiers,” he added. Advocacy Share the News! Previous PostNext Post Latest Posts​ 09 Oct 2024 Cheaper Rice now! Cong. Wilbert “Manoy” T. Lee Calls for Efficient Supply Chain to Stabilize Rice Costs​ 09 Oct 2024 Agri Party-List Seeks Reelection, Commits Continued Support for Agri, Vulnerable Sectors 08 Oct 2024 Round-the-Clock Port Operations: Cong. Wilbert “Manoy” T. Lee Pushes for 24/7 Government Services to Lower Rice Prices Categories Activities Advocacy Legislation Support Previous Activities

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Amid Ballooning Agri Losses From El Niño, Lee Urges Gov’t To Bolster Mitigation Effort, Prepare For La Niña

2024 News, Advocacy /

Amid Ballooning Agri Losses From El Niño, Lee Urges Gov’t To Bolster Mitigation Effort, Prepare For La Niña With agricultural damage due to El Niño nearly at a staggering P4 billion, AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee urged the government to bolster efforts in mitigating impacts of El Niño, and prepare for the looming La Niña projected by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) in June to August this year. “Napakalaki na po ng pinsalang dulot ng El Niño sa ating agrikultura, umaabot na sa halos P4 bilyon. Ikawalong El Niño na ito na dumaan sa ating bansa simula 1980, pero parang nabibigla pa rin tayo,” Lee lamented. “Pagkatapos ng delubyong ito, panibagong hamon na naman sa mga magsasaka at mangingisda ang inaasahang idudulot ng La Niña. Maging pro-active na tayo; balikan natin kung ano at saan ang mga naging kakulangan at simulan nang ipatupad ang epektibong tugon sa epekto ng mga kalamidad. Huwag na nating hintayin pa na dumating ang susunod na El Niño at manalanta ang La Niña bago tayo magpatupad ng mga polisiya na magbibigay ng proteksyon sa ating mga food security soldiers,” he added. Lee noted that the World Bank, in its 2019 study entitled “Striking a Balance: Managing El Niño and La Niña in Philippines’ Agriculture”, had already laid out policy recommendations for the government to follow in order to reduce El Niño and La Niña-related losses. These recommendations are divided into two groups: preparedness and resilience. Preparedness, according to the World Bank, are measures specifically geared toward El Niño and should, ideally, be in place before the next El Niño event occurs. These actions will significantly empower people to cope, respond, and recover from damaging El Niño events. Resilience, on the other hand, are measures that are not specifically tailored to El Niño, but that will build individuals’ and organizations’ ability to adapt to multiple forms of risks and shocks without compromising long-term development.   According to the Bicolano lawmaker, the World Bank made several high priority recommendations for preparedness, including preparing response measures when El Niño-related events occur; correcting inefficiencies within the Roadmap to Address the Impact of El Niño (RAIN) and the El Niño Task Force; harnessing rebound from La Niña; assessing El Niño-related slow onset disasters and government responses; preparing detailed El Niño risk and vulnerability maps; improving El Niño-forecasting and dissemination; strengthening the early warning capacity of government agencies; strengthening Local Government Units’ (LGUs) capacity to deliver aid and services and prepare for El Niño events; and provide contingency and preparedness funding for El Niño events. “For resilience, the World Bank recommended that we sustain and scale up good practices, including identifying Philippine best practices on El Niño-related themes, and scaling up human and resource capacity,” Lee pointed out. “The path has been laid out for us by experts, all we need is to follow it,” he added. According to the Department of Agriculture (DA), damage to the agriculture sector due to El Niño has already reached P3.94 billion, covering more than 66,000 hectares and almost 74,000 farmers and fisherfolk. Citing reports from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Lee, who hails from Bicol, said a total of P267,390,512 in agricultural losses was reported in Albay on April 11, following the declaration of a state of calamity in the previous month. Albay is only one of the 103 areas in the country under state of calamity due to El Niño. “Winner Tayo Lahat kung mapapangalagaan ang buhay at hanapbuhay ng ating local food producers dahil nakasalalay sa kanila ang supply ng pagkain ng buong bansa at pagtiyak sa ating food security. Sa masagana nilang produksyon, hindi lang mapapataas ang kanilang kita, mapapababa din ang presyo ng produkto sa merkado, na siya namang ikatitipid ng consumers. Dagdag budget ito ng pamilyang Pilipino, at bawas alalahanin sa iba pang pangangailangan, lalo na sa panahon ng emergency o pagkakasakit!” Lee said. Advocacy Share the News! Previous PostNext Post Latest Posts​ 09 Oct 2024 Cheaper Rice now! Cong. Wilbert “Manoy” T. Lee Calls for Efficient Supply Chain to Stabilize Rice Costs​ 09 Oct 2024 Agri Party-List Seeks Reelection, Commits Continued Support for Agri, Vulnerable Sectors 08 Oct 2024 Round-the-Clock Port Operations: Cong. Wilbert “Manoy” T. Lee Pushes for 24/7 Government Services to Lower Rice Prices Categories Activities Advocacy Legislation Support Previous Activities

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Lee To DA: Ready QRF For Drought-Hit Areas

2024 News, Advocacy, Support /

Lee To DA: Ready QRF For Drought-Hit Areas The Department of Agriculture (DA) should anticipate more areas in the country to be declared under a state of calamity due to drought and ready its Quick Response Fund (QRF) under this year’s calamity funds so that it can be immediately tapped and released to aid drought-hit farmers, AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee said. This, as the local government of San Enrique town in Negros Occidental declared the municipality under a state of calamity following weeks of rising temperatures, dry weather conditions, and lack of rainfall.  The town’s mayor says 90 percent of the town’s rice fields have already dried up and farmers couldn’t start replanting due to the unfavorable weather conditions. San Enrique is home to some 26,000 people and is one of the top rice-producing towns in Negros Occidental. A large chunk of the town’s 2,884.75-hectare land area are rice farms. About 20 local government units (LGUs) have declared a state of calamity due to the impact of El Niño. “Kailangang i-expect natin na sa darating na mga linggo ay madadagdagan pa ang mga lugar na magdedeklara ng state of calamity dahil sa matinding init at tagtuyot. Kaya dapat siguraduhin ng DA na ready for release at download sa kanilang regional offices ang QRF kapag nagdeklara na ng state of calamity ang mga LGU para naman mabigyan ng agarang ayuda ang mga apektadong magsasaka sa mga lugar na ‘yon,” Lee said. The Bicolano lawmaker also asked the DA and the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) to coordinate for possible cloud-seeding operations over major farm areas in the country to cushion the detrimental effects of the El Niño. The on-going dry spell is expected in the Philippines to persist until May. Advocacy Support Share the News! Previous PostNext Post Latest Posts​ 09 Oct 2024 Cheaper Rice now! Cong. Wilbert “Manoy” T. Lee Calls for Efficient Supply Chain to Stabilize Rice Costs​ 09 Oct 2024 Agri Party-List Seeks Reelection, Commits Continued Support for Agri, Vulnerable Sectors 08 Oct 2024 Round-the-Clock Port Operations: Cong. Wilbert “Manoy” T. Lee Pushes for 24/7 Government Services to Lower Rice Prices Categories Activities Advocacy Legislation Support Previous Activities

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Lee To DENR: Update List Of Abandoned, Undeveloped, Underutilized Fishponds For Mangrove Conversion

2024 News, Legislation /

Lee To DENR: Update List Of Abandoned, Undeveloped, Underutilized Fishponds For Mangrove Conversion AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee on Wednesday urged the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to update its list of abandoned, undeveloped, and underutilized (AUU) ponds covered by Fishpond Lease Agreements (FLA) so that these may be converted back to mangrove forests. Citing the Amended Fisheries Code, Lee said it is the duty of the DENR, together with local government units, other concerned agencies, and Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Councils (FARMCs), to determine which AUU fishponds covered by FLAs can be reverted to their original mangrove state and to take all steps necessary to restore such areas in their original mangrove state after such determination has been made. “Mangrove forests are important especially in coastal communities as they provide not only a source of food but also protect coastlines and prevent erosion,” he said. “Malinaw po na nakasaad sa Republic Act No. 8550 o Fisheries Code na kailangang mayroong listahan ang DENR ng mga hindi na ginagamit o napabayaan nang mga palaisdaan. Responsibilidad din ng DENR na ibalik ang mga ito sa pagiging mangrove forests,” he added as he called for the full implementation of the law. Lee undercored the need to tighten the implementation of laws and policies, stressing that “We already have the law in place, kailangan lang ang maayos at seryosong pagpapatupad nito.” “Dapat maipatupad ang mga batas sa pangangalaga sa kalikasan bilang proteksyon din ng ating mamamayan mula sa sakuna, at para mabigyan sila ng tiyak na kabuhayan, dagdag na kita, sapat at masustansyang pagkain, at mabawasan ang pangamba na wala silang panggastos ‘pag sila ay nagkasakit,” the solon said. The Bicolano lawmaker also called for adequate budgetary support to fast-track the conversion of the AUU fishponds back to their original mangrove state, as part of the effort to restore mangrove cover in the country. “According to scientists and leading maritime conservation groups, about 50 percent of our mangroves have been lost to fishpond conversion and other coastal projects, making us the second worst country in Southeast Asia in terms of mangrove losses. It is high time that we do something about this,” he said. Moreover, Lee, principal author of House Bill No. 9662, or the “Blue Economy Act,” called on the Senate to approve their version of the bill. The proposed legislation would provide a framework for the safe use and sustainable development of maritime resources in the country. “Blue economy” refers to a practical ocean-based economic model using green infrastructure and technologies, innovative financing mechanisms, and proactive institutional arrangements for meeting the twin goals of protecting our oceans and coasts and enhancing its potential contribution to sustainable development, including improving human well-being, and reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities. “Kailangan nating pangalagaan ang ating yamang tubig upang mapakinabangan din ito ng mga susunod pang henerasyon para Winner Tayo Lahat, maging ang ating mga apo sa tuhod at apo sa talampakan. Huwag nating paabutin sa puntong huli na ang lahat bago tayo kumilos,” he said. Legislation Share the News! Previous PostNext Post Latest Posts​ 09 Oct 2024 Cheaper Rice now! Cong. Wilbert “Manoy” T. Lee Calls for Efficient Supply Chain to Stabilize Rice Costs​ 09 Oct 2024 Agri Party-List Seeks Reelection, Commits Continued Support for Agri, Vulnerable Sectors 08 Oct 2024 Round-the-Clock Port Operations: Cong. Wilbert “Manoy” T. Lee Pushes for 24/7 Government Services to Lower Rice Prices Categories Activities Advocacy Previous Activities Legislation Support

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