Kiko Pangilinan bats for more agri-infra investment for food security
Former Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan (INQUIRER FILES)
MANILA, Philippines — Senatorial candidate and former senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan pushed for more government investment in agriculture infrastructure to secure the country’s food supply and create jobs.
“In my first term in the Senate, our budget for infrastructure was only P150 billion. Today, it’s about a trillion. So, that should be the path towards food security,” Pangilinan said in an event with supporters in Quezon City on Saturday.
“In the next six years, we should quadruple our agri-infra budget so that we can address food security, job creation in the rural areas among others,” Pangilinan added.
The former senator cited Thailand’s government spending for agriculture, despite having a smaller population than the Philippines.
“Thailand is spending double what we’re spending [on] agriculture… [T]hat gives you an indication about why our food prices are high and why poverty continues to plague rural communities: because we’re not investing enough in agriculture,” Pangilinan said.
READ: DA seeks $2-B fund for key agri projects
According to documents from its Budget Bureau, the Thai government allocated 122.627 billion baht (P203.791 billion) for its Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives for fiscal year 2025.
Meanwhile, according to the 2025 General Appropriations Act, the Philippine government allocated P124.437 billion for this fiscal year.
READ: Pangilinan eyes to address food security in Senate comeback bid
Pangilinan, who is seeking a Senate comeback and running under the Liberal Party, has anchored his campaign primarily on food security.
He was presidential assistant for food security and agricultural modernization from 2014 to 2015 under then – President Noynoy Aquino.
Pangilinan was with supporters at a forum in Quezon City’s third congressional district on Saturday, with former Rep. Allan Reyes, who is seeking a House comeback; reelectionist Councilor Anton Reyes; and former Sen. Bam Aquino, represented by his nephew, Kiko Dee.
