Senator Kiko Pangilinan pushed for structural reforms to strengthen farmers’ and fishers’ cooperatives, warning that agricultural modernization will remain limited without strong grassroots organization and consistent extension services.
Pangilinan, who chairs the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform, made the case during a public hearing on proposed measures seeking to create a Bureau of Agricultural Cooperatives and to re-nationalize agriculture and fisheries extension services. He said past efforts to organize farmers, including initiatives in 2012 and 2024, showed modest results despite training and support from the Department of Agriculture, the Agricultural Training Institute, and local government units, largely due to weak field-level presence.
According to Pangilinan, extension workers and cooperatives are critical in linking farmers and fishers to production, financing, and markets. He said the proposed bills are backed by the DA and are consistent with views previously expressed by President Bongbong Marcos, who has emphasized the role of cooperatives and extension services based on his experience as a former local chief executive.
Senator Raffy Tulfo also expressed support, saying cooperatives allow agricultural workers to address challenges collectively and improve the delivery of government assistance. He raised concerns over gaps in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture, noting that many farmers and fishers remain unregistered and are therefore unable to access state support.
The hearing marked the second round of discussions on the proposed measures, following an earlier technical working group session focused on strengthening farmer and fisher organization through cooperatives and extension services.
