30/05/2026
Kamusta kayo?
Ito kami, naliligo na sa sobrang daming kelangan gawin.
Kuwento ko lang na isa kami sa mga bitbit ni Chef Waya Araos-Wijangco ng Farm Foward Initiative (FFI) diyan sa masalimuot na Senate Hearing.
Yes, di kami tiga Benguet pero kasama ko ang mga officers ng Federasyon ng mga Learning Sites for Agriculture sa Region 1 nung mga panahong iyon.
Para sa mga hindi nakakaalam, ang isang Learning Site for Agriculture ay literal na isang farm, kami po ay farmers na may kakaibang teknolohiya at pamamaraan kung kaya't kami ay na certify bilang isang LSA.
But that's for another post, balik tayo sa mahiwagang hearing na iyan.
Matapang po tayo nagsasalita dahil on the ground nakikita namin at ramdam ang mga hinagpis ng farmers at fisherfolks dahil sa tayo ay isang certified Learning Site for Agriculture (LSA).
Nasa Senado po kami at sinuwerte na naka alis na a few minutes bago sila nagkagulo.
Iyang internal drama sa loob ay isang malaking distraction sa mga issue ng panahon.
Imbis na matutukan ang mga issue na bitbit namin nung oras na iyon, nauwi lang sa WALA yung pagpunta namin doon dahil sa mga talipandas na namumuno sa 'tin.
Nag-aaway away sila habang nalulunod na ang buong Pilipinas dahil hindi nabibigyan ng solusyon ang mga issue na URGENT AT DAPAT PRIORITY.
Yaang mga delays nila ay nagdudulot ng malaking pagkalugi at kahirapan sa mga farmers at fisherfolks, kaya sana naman ay magising ang mga liderato natin.
Ang hirap na nga maging Pilipino, ang hirap pa maging farmer na Pilipino. Pilit ko ikinakampanya ang kagandahan ng agrikultura pero kung kasakiman ang umiiral, ay good luck talaga sa atin Pilipins.
FARMERS' VOICES SILENCED AS SENATE POLITICAL TENSIONS HALT HEARING, ADVOCATE WARNS OF WIDER IMPACT
Political conflict in the Senate has far-reaching consequences that directly affect ordinary Filipinos, particularly farmers, an agriculture advocate said after a scheduled hearing was canceled following leadership changes in the chamber.
In a report aired on Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho on Sunday, May 24, chef and sustainable food systems advocate Waya Araos-Wijangco said farmers who traveled to Manila for a Senate hearing were left disappointed after the meeting was scrapped due to changes in Senate leadership.
"Actually marami sa atin hindi nare-realize na ganun ka-far-reaching ang effect ng pag-away kung mag-away-away sila sa Senado. Epekto noon hanggang sa laylayan, hanggang sa pagsasaka," Araos-Wijangco said.
She said farmers had spent about a week preparing for the hearing before it was canceled, despite their anticipation of finally being able to raise their concerns before lawmakers.
"Papunta kaming Senado nu'ng Lunes, dahil inimbita kami sa Senate hearing ng Committee on Agriculture," she said.
Araos-Wijangco said the cancellation came after all committee positions were declared vacant following the Senate reorganization, which affected the leadership of the agriculture panel.
"At that point, hindi na chairman ng Senate Committee on Agriculture si Sen. Kiko [Pangilinan] so he couldn't proceed with the hearing," she said.
She stressed that when political processes are disrupted, the impact is felt beyond institutions and down to communities that rely on government support, including farmers who were supposed to formally present their concerns.
Araos-Wijangco also said a supportive policy environment is crucial for farmers to thrive rather than merely survive, emphasizing the need for stable governance to address agricultural issues.
