CITY OF MALOLOS — The Provincial Government of Bulacan is stepping up efforts to strengthen local agriculture and expand market opportunities for farmers through a renewed push for the Sagip Saka Program.
The initiative, spearheaded by the Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO), gathered local leaders and agricultural stakeholders on October 28, 2026, at The Pavilion, Hiyas ng Bulacan Convention Center, to reinforce support for the program and promote stronger partnerships between farmers and government institutions.
The high-impact provincial reorientation drew farmers, municipal agriculturists, and Bids and Awards Committee members together with a critical mission: streamlining implementation, cutting through bureaucratic red tape, and forging a seamless pipeline between local government units and agricultural cooperatives.
Participants dove straight into the mechanics of the Sagip Saka Act, exploring key legal frameworks alongside the Farmers and Fisherfolks Enterprise Development Program (FFEDP) and the digital tracking muscle of the Farmers and Fisherfolks Enterprise Development Information System (FFEDIS).
Provincial Agriculturist Ma. Gloria S.F. Carrillo underscored that the reorientation is more than a routine briefing—it is a strategic leap forward, advancing agricultural development in Bulacan by reinforcing the implementation of policies and programs designed to support local farmers and fisherfolk.
“Ang araw na ito ay hindi lamang karaniwang pagpupulong, ito ay isang hakbang tungo sa pagbabago at pag unlad ng sektor ng agrilkultura sa Bulacan, sa pamamagitan ng Sagip Saka Act, binibigyan tayo ng kapangyarihan at pagkakataon na direktang suportahan ang ating mga lokal na magsasaka at mangingisda,’ Carrillo said.
Governor Daniel R. Fernando through Chief of Staff Atty. Nikki Manuel S. Coronel also recognized farmers and fisherfolks as the nation’s true heroes, praising their unwavering resilience in keeping the country fed through relentless crises and economic hardships.
“Ang ating mga magsasaka, ating mga fisherfolk, ang mga tunay na bayani ng ating bayan. Naramdaman po natin ito nitong mga nakaraang panahon, ang dami pong industriya na nagsarado, ang dami pong naapektuhan ng iba’t-ibang mga krisis, pero sino ang patuloy na nagsagip sa ating bansa, kayo pong mga magsasaka at mangingisda, kayo po ang sumasagip sa ating lahat,” Coronel stated.
Highlighting the significance of the Sagip Saka Act, or Republic Act No. 11321, Sagip Saka and Intellectual Property Assistant Secretary for High-Value Crops Atty. Joycel R. Panlilio clarified that the law goes beyond allowing the government to directly purchase agricultural products.
“Ito rin ay batas na nagpapahintulot ng direktang pagbili ng pamahalaan mula sa mga kwalipikadong magsasaka at mangingisda, mas malawak ang layunin nito na tulungan silang maging matagumpay na negosyante at magkaroon ng malawak na market,” Panlilio explained.
The provincial reorientation reaffirmed Bulacan’s commitment to strengthening the implementation of the Sagip Saka Program and supporting a more inclusive and sustainable agricultural sector that provides local farmers and fisherfolks with greater economic opportunities. (UnliNews Online)
