MANILA, Philippines – Nagpalabas si Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., araw ng Sabado ng Executive Order (EO) 101 na nag-aatas ng ganap na implementasyon ng Republic Act (RA) 11321 o Sagip Saka Act, na magtatatag ng programa para sa mga magsasaka at mangingisda na naglalayong paghusayin ang kanilang produksyon at maging produktibo.
Sa ilalim ng EO 101, “all national government agencies (NGAs), including government-owned or -controlled corporations (GOCCs) and state universities and colleges (SUCs), are directed to align their programs, activities, and projects with the objectives of Sagip Saka (save farming).”
Ipinag-utos din sa Local government units (LGUs) na suportahan ang implementasyon ng Sagip Saka Act para tulungan ang mga lokal na magsasaka at mangingisda na maabot ang kanilang ganap na potensiyal at makamit ang mas magandang kita.
Ang atas ng EO 101 ay ang adopsyon ng batas na susuporta sa mga magsasaka at mangingisda kabilang na ang ‘capacity building, market access, enterprise support, at ang promosyon ng napananatiling kabuhayan para sa small agricultural producers.
Ipinag-utos din nito sa lahat ng ahensiya ng gobyerno na direktang bumili ng agricultural at fishery products mula sa akreditadong farmers and fisherfolk cooperatives and enterprises (FFCEs).
“Said procurement shall be exempted from the application of the bidding process, subject to negotiated procurement prescribed under RA No. 12009 or the New Government Procurement Act and other existing laws, rules and regulations,” ang mababasa sa kautusan.
“Further, all NGAs and instrumentalities, including GOCCs and SUCs, are hereby directed, and LGUs are hereby encouraged, to ensure that rice and other agricultural and fishery products served in government events, food service areas or canteens are directly purchase from FFCEs to promote the consumption of locally produced food and support small producers,” ang nakasaad pa rin sa kautusan.
“EO 101 calls for greater convergence and collaboration among government agencies, LGUs, private sector, civil society organizations, academic institutions and development partners to advance inclusive and sustainable agricultural growth and ensure that farmers and fisherfolk gain consistent access to markets and government support,” ayon sa ulat.
Sa kabilang dako, inatasan naman ang Department of Agriculture na magtatag ng Sagip Saka desks sa regional at field offices nito na magsisilbi bilang “hubs for information, assistance at coordination.”
Sa ilalim ng EO 101, “the Farmers and Fisherfolk Enterprise Development Council, created under the Sagip Saka Act, will oversee the order’s implementation, monitor progress, and submit biannual reports to the President.”
Ang Sagip Saka Act, nilagdaan upang maging ganap na batas noong 2019, naglalayong bigyang kapangyarihan ang lokal na magsasaka at mangingisda sa pamamagitan ng pagsama sa mga ito sa ‘value chains, enhancing productivity at pagpo-promote ng local procurement.’
Ang EO 101 ay kagyat na magiging epektibo sa oras na mailathala na sa Official Gazette o sa pahayagan na may general circulation. (KRIS JOSE)
