Pangilinan eyes to address food security in Senate comeback bid

Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan (L) filed his Certificate of Candidacy on October 8, 2024. | PHOTO: Official Facebook page of Kiko Pangilinan

MANILA, Philippines — Former senator Francis ‘Kiko” Pangilinan on Tuesday said that his Senate comeback bid will be anchored on ensuring food security amid the increasing prices of basic goods.

“Ito ang original plan ko at lalo na ngayon ang pinakadaing ng taumbayan ay ang taas ng presyo ng pagkain. Ang taas ng presyo ng bilihin at sa track record nga natin kanina, natugunan natin ito yung tamang management ng pagkain lalo ng bigas,” Pangilinan said in an ambush interview after he filed his certificate of candidacy for senator in the 2025 elections.

(This is my original plan especially now that the public is complaining about the increasing prices of food. The prices for basic goods are high and based on our track record, we addressed proper management of food, especially on rice.)

He also said that he is now pursuing his original plan to run for the Senate after setting it aside when he ran as vice president in the 2022 elections.

One of his advocacies when he was appointed as food security secretary was to combat rice smuggling which the Senate eventually investigated.

He also said that bringing down the cost of basic goods such as rice is possible through agricultural reform.

“Kayang pababain ang presyo ng bigas pero kailangan ng malawakang reporma sa hanay ng agrikultura at pangigisda. Kasama na dyan yung doblehin o triplehin yung pagaggasta ng gobyerno sa agrikultura,” he emphasized.

(We can bring down the price of rice but we need a wide reform on agriculture and aquaculture. It includes doubling or tripling  the budget for the agriculture sector.)