Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan met with Naga City Mayor and former vice president Leni Robredo at Naga City Hall to discuss the full implementation of the Sagip Saka Act, a law that allows government agencies to directly purchase agricultural produce from farmers and fisherfolk without public bidding.
In a social media post on Thursday, Pangilinan said the meeting also focused on strengthening cooperatives and identifying ways the Senate agriculture committee could support local government food security programs. Pangilinan and Robredo were running mates in the 2022 national elections. Robredo won the Naga mayoralty in 2025, while Pangilinan returned to the Senate the same year.
The Sagip Saka Act, or Republic Act No. 11321, establishes a national program to develop farmers’ and fisherfolk enterprises, raise rural incomes, and support sustainable agriculture. It authorizes national agencies and local government units to directly procure agricultural and fishery products from accredited cooperatives and enterprises through negotiated procurement, bypassing regular competitive bidding while following government procurement rules. The law also provides support such as access to financing, production inputs, postharvest facilities, marketing assistance, and working capital.
The discussion around Sagip Saka comes amid renewed political speculation ahead of the 2028 elections. Speaking in a recent interview, former senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV said both Pangilinan and Robredo have declined to be considered for a presidential run. Trillanes said the names now being discussed within the so-called pink forces are Senators Risa Hontiveros and Bam Aquino, adding that Pangilinan and Robredo have already “begged off” from any 2028 presidential bid.
