Pangilinan: Time to recognize Mindanao as key to fight hunger, poverty

Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan is officially proclaimed as senator on Saturday, May 17. INQUIRER.net / DIANNE SAMPANG

MANILA, Philippines — Senator-elect Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan on Saturday said that it is time to recognize Mindanao as an important weapon against hunger and poverty.

Pangilinan, who anchors his advocacy on food security, said that food should be accessible for everyone.

“It is time to recognize and support Mindanao— not just the country’s food basket but as an important key to fight hunger and poverty,” Pangilinan said in Filipino in a prepared proclamation speech read by his sister.

Pangilinan skipped the proclamation for newly-elected senators on Saturday as he is currently in the U.S to attend his daughter’s graduation ceremony.

Pangilinan earlier said that Mindanao can reach its full potential to be the country’s food basket if there is enough budget for the food sector.

READ: Pangilinan: Hunger has no color, now is the time to act

Pangilinan also said that hunger and the solution to the country’s pressing problems know no political color.

READ: Fresh from victory, Kiko Pangilinan says ‘pink movement’ must reach out

“I am coming back to the Senate, not just bringing my promises but my goals: to work, serve, and stand firm for the dreams of every Filipino,” Pangilinan added in Filipino.

Pangilinan ranked 5th in the senatorial race obtaining a total of 15,343,229 votes.

During his senatorial campaign, the former senator pushed for more government investment in the agriculture industry to promote food and job security. He was the presidential assistant for food security and agricultural modernization from 2014 to 2015 under the administration of late President Noynoy Aquino. /jpv