Committee Report No. 24 – Senate Bill No. 1850
New Agrarian Emancipation Act
8 February 2023
Mr. President, with the indulgence of the author and sponsor, I would like to co-sponsor Senate Bill No. 1850 under Committee Report No. 24 entitled “An Act Emancipating Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries From The Debt Burden Arising From The Award Of Agricultural Lands Under The Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program And For Other Purposes.”
Hindi lingid sa kaalaman ng lahat, na bagama’t ang Pilipinas ay isang agricultural country, kung saan malaking porsyento ng ating GDP ay nakasalalay sa agrikultura, ang ating mga magsasaka ay isa pa rin sa pinakamahirap na sektor sa ating bansa.
Sa kabila ng ating pagpupunyagi para sa agrikultura, at sa kabila ng ating mga natamasang biyaya na dulot ng Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program na tumakbo ng ilang dekada, ay hindi natin maikakaila na sadlak pa rin sa tanikala ng kahirapan ang ating mga kawawang magsasaka.
It is for this reason, Mr. President that I commend the Committee on Agriculture, under the leadership of our chairperson, the champion of Philippine Agriculture – Senator Cynthia Villar, along with our esteemed colleagues, in filing these legislative measures on the new Agrarian Emancipation Act.
Although this will not solve the abject poverty dilemma of our farmers, this will surely help ease their financial burden.
Malaking bagay po para sa ating magsasaka ang gumising sa umaga at harapin ang araw-araw na hamon ng pagsasaka sa gitna ng kahirapan, ng epekto ng climate change, ng nagmamahal na farm inputs at pataba at ng hagupit ng inflation, na hindi na niya kailangang isipin pa at magkumahog pa sa pagbabayad ng amortization, interests, surcharges at penalties sa kanilang lupa, dahil sa pagbibigay ng condonation na ito sa kanilang mga utang.
Napakalaking gaan sa kalooban yung alam mong wala ka nang utang sa lupa at mahahawakan mo na ang titulo sa lupang pinaglalaanan mo ng iyong buhay. At iyan ang kaligayahang maibibigay natin sa kanila sa pagpapasa ng panukalang batas na ito. This is a way of showing our farmers that we hear their cries and that we understand their pain and sacrifices. Although this is not enough, atleast, sa pagkakataong ito, may nagawa tayong konkreto at direktang makagagaan sa kanilang kalooban at sa kanilang pamumuhay.
This effort is in line with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos’ commitment in emancipating agrarian reform beneficiaries from the agrarian reform debt burden.
The journey towards true agrarian reform objectives which are reducing inequalities in income, wealth and living standards and further strengthening independent and self-reliant farmers, is still a long way to go. But atleast, we are on track and we do not lose hope.
Again, congratulations to the Committee on Agriculture headed by our Champion, Senator Cynthia Villar.
Thank you, Mr. President.