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Sunday - Oct 26, 2025

Sunday - Oct 26, 2025
Photo by Eduardo Prim / Unsplash

Weather Forecast as of 6 AM

Manila City27°C (few clouds)- Expect a day of partly cloudy with rain
Baguio City16°C (scattered clouds)- Expect a day of partly cloudy with rain
Cebu City28°C (overcast clouds)- Expect a day of partly cloudy with rain
Davao City26°C (broken clouds)- Expect a day of partly cloudy with rain
Puerto Princesa26°C (scattered clouds)- Expect a day of partly cloudy with rain
City of Naga26°C (scattered clouds)- Expect a day of partly cloudy with rain
Tuguegarao26°C (few clouds)- Expect a day of partly cloudy with rain
Source: OpenWeather

On This Day

  • 1896 - Spanish forces recaptured the town of Noveleta, Cavite, from Filipino revolutionaries.
  • 1944 - The Battle of Leyte Gulf, the largest naval battle in history, concluded with a decisive Allied victory.
  • 1966 - The seven-nation Manila Summit Conference, convened to address the Vietnam War, concluded.

On The Cover

Signed into law as Republic Act No. 11321 in 2019, the Sagip Saka Act is a significant move by the government to ensure sustainable, modern agriculture and, most importantly, improve the lives and income of our hardworking farmers and fisherfolk. The term "Sagip Saka" itself translates roughly to "Save the Farm," and that is precisely the core mandate of this law.

So, what does this act actually do? It institutes the Farmers and Fisherfolk Enterprise Development Program within the Department of Agriculture. It's a holistic approach that tackles key challenges facing our food producers, including:

1. Direct Government Procurement: This is arguably the most groundbreaking provision. The law mandates national and local government agencies—from municipal offices to government hospitals, and even state universities—to directly purchase agricultural and fishery products from accredited farmers and fisherfolk cooperatives and enterprises. This procurement is exempt from the usual bidding process, provided it undergoes negotiated procurement guidelines.

The Big Impact: By cutting out layers of middlemen, the law ensures that more of the consumer's money goes directly into the hands of the producers, leading to higher incomes for them and potentially more affordable food prices for the consumer. It also ensures a ready, stable market for their produce, especially for things like school feeding programs or relief operations.

2. Comprehensive Assistance: The program provides various forms of support, including:

  • Assistance in improving production and productivity through extension services, skills training, and provision of inputs and equipment.
  • Better access to financing and credit through preferential rates and special windows from government financial institutions like the Land Bank of the Philippines.
  • Support for research and development to provide access to improved technologies.
  • Help with business development to turn farming into profitable enterprises.

3. Incentives for Support: The Act encourages both public and private sector support by offering tax incentives. Gifts and donations to the accredited farmer and fisherfolk enterprises are exempt from donor's tax, and local government units are encouraged to exempt storage facilities for farm inputs and outputs from real property tax.

In essence, the Sagip Saka Act moves beyond simply giving aid. It is about empowering farmers and fisherfolk to become successful entrepreneurs by integrating them more strategically into the supply and value chain, boosting their productivity, and guaranteeing a market for their products.

This is a long-term strategy for food security and poverty reduction in the Philippines. The challenge now lies in the rigorous and transparent implementation of this Act across all government levels.

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