NANINIWALA si Agriculture Secretary William Dar, na malaki ang maitutulong ng paglagda sa implementing rules and regulations (IRR) ng Republic Act No. 113211, o ang “Sagip Saka” Act, para sa higit pang pagpapaunlad ng agribusiness sa bansa.

“I thank the authors of RA 113211 as this can concretize, and support the new programs and projects of the Department of Agriculture (DA) because of the inclusive agribusiness system that we would like to pursue beyond just increasing productivity,” pahayag ni Dar sa ginanap na seremonya ng paglagda IRR, na idinaos sa DA central office sa Quezon City.

“The value chain system is in place and this gives us now a way forward in terms of broadening the interventions, such as the ‘bagsakan’, tooling (the) packaging centers, so that before farmers can transport their produce, these are well packed,”paliwanag niya.

Ayon pa sa kalihim, ang paglagda ng IRR ay magbibigay rin ng daan upang malaman ang ilang mga salik “[where inclusive agribusiness] will really be the way to enhance the services of the DA, including our partners -- the local government units (LGUs).”

“I have said time and again, there is only one system, one nation. I have talked with DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) and DOST (Department of Science and Technology) secretaries. I told them this is the time to converge and synergize, and harmonize everything anchored on inclusive agribusiness system with value chain as the guide,” ani Dar.

“I am hoping that the agribusiness mechanism is a way with which we can further enhance the capacities of the farmers through their associations or cooperatives in transforming themselves towards inclusive agribusiness,” dagdag pa ng kalihim.

Ang Sagip Saka Act, na nilagdaan bilang batas ni Pangulong Duterte noong Abril 17, 2019, ay nagtatatag ng “Farmers and Fisherfolk Enterprise Development Program,” na tumutukoy sa “the comprehensive set of objectives, targets, and holistic approach in promoting the establishment of enterprises involving agricultural and fishery products.”

Kinakailangan namang nakaangkla ang programa at magpapatuloy sa pangunguna ng

Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Plan, at ng Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Development Plan.

Itinatakda rin ng batas ang paglikha ng “Farmers and Fisherfolk Enterprise Development Council” natitiyak sa implementasyon ng programa.

Kinakailangan naman itong binubuo ng mga kinatawan mula sa DA, DTI, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), at ng Department of Finance (DOF), gayundin ang kinatwan para sa Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), mga samahan ng magsasaka at mangingisda, at ang sektor ng agrikultura/ pagkain at retawran at pagnenegosyo.

Samantala, ang pondong susuporta sa Sagip Saka ay isasama sa taunang plan at budget proposal ng DA.