Lawmakers are urging the government to fully enforce the Sagip Saka Act (RA 11321) to tackle the persistent problem of agricultural wastage in the country. Enacted in 2019, the legislation is designed to boost inclusive growth in the farming and fishing sectors by allowing government agencies, local government units, and state universities and colleges to purchase products directly from accredited cooperatives and enterprises.
RELATED: [Digital Agri Dashboard Proposed To Monitor Food Supply Nationwide]
Alarming Crop Wastage Across the Country
Sen. Rodante Marcoleta highlighted the alarming situation of farmers discarding tons of produce due to the lack of buyers.
“We still hear numerous reports, even on social media, that local produce such as tomatoes, onions and cabbage is being thrown away. That means that nobody is buying them. It’s such a waste... It’s a pitiful state,” he said, speaking in Filipino.
Government Funds and Capacity-Building
During Senate deliberations on the proposed 2026 budget, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian shared that the government has allocated P500 million to scale up the Sagip Saka program. The funding will support capacity-building initiatives for farmers’ cooperatives, provide grants to strengthen agricultural enterprises, and offer training for local government units to improve procurement and distribution systems.
Gatchalian also noted that the Departments of Agriculture and Interior and Local Government are coordinating to ensure more cooperatives qualify as suppliers and that local officials are equipped to maximize the law’s direct-procurement mechanisms.
Marcoleta stressed that recurring reports of wasted crops reflect gaps in the law’s implementation, urging authorities to act promptly to safeguard farmers from market failures.
By ensuring Sagip Saka is fully operational, the program could reduce food wastage, stabilize supply chains, and provide Filipino households with more accessible and affordable fresh produce, ultimately benefiting both producers and consumers across the country.
RELATED: [P3.6-B Mega Food Hub In Clark To Modernize Agri-Logistics]
