Peace and prosperity in the Philippines, including in conflict-torn Mindanao, cannot be achieved without addressing hunger, former senator and senatorial candidate Kiko Pangilinan said as he brought his platform of food security in Lanao del Norte.
Speaking before members of the Northwestern Mindanao Front-Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (NWMF-BIAF-MILF) on Saturday, April 26, the former senator underscored the need to end hunger and champion inclusivity in a bid to bring progress and development to the region.
“Napakahalaga ng adhikaing (A very important objective is) from arms to farms. Naniniwala ako (I believe) the future of the Philippines when it comes to peace and prosperity cannot happen unless we invest in agriculture and food,” Pangilinan told the crowd.
“Walang kapayapaan kung ang mga kababayan natin ay gutom. Walang kapayapaan kung ang ating magsasaka at mangingisda ay kapos. Walang kapayapaan kapag mataas ang mga presyo ng bilihin at pagkain. Kinakailangan ayusin natin ang pagkakalam ng ating mga sikmura (There is no peace if our people are hungry. There is peace if our farmers and fishermen are poor. There is no peace if the prices of food and commodities are high. We need to fix the growling of our stomach) and food security is critical if we are to move toward peace progress and development,” he added.
In his meeting with Hon. Abdullah “Bravo” Macapaar, Al-Hajj, front commander of the NWMF-BIAF of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and member of the BARMM parliament, the former senator and food security czar discussed the implementation of the Sagip Saka Act and his proposed “Libreng Almusal (Free Breakfast)” program in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
The Sagip Saka Act, signed in 2019, was a fulfillment of his campaign promise in 2016 to expand market access for farmers and fisherfolk.
The law allows national and local governments to purchase food directly from farmers and fisherfolk without the need for public bidding and without the restrictions of the procurement law.
His proposed “Libreng Almusal” program, on the other hand, will provide free breakfast meals to schoolchildren—from daycare to senior high school—in public schools, wherein half of the budget must be allocated for the purchase of food items from local farmers and fisherfolk.
In pushing for food security and the lower prices of food if he wins in next month’s polls, the former senator underscored the importance of unity despite the differences in faith and political colors.
“We are all Filipinos regardless of our faith, and for us to move forward, unity is (unclear) and for us to be united, we must be able to understand one another. And for us to be able to understand one another, we must have conversations. We must converse and exchange ideas, we must share what we value, we must together forge a path of peace for our nation,” he said.
He also appealed to the NWMF-BIAF-MILF members for support, saying that the Philippines needs leaders who can be trusted and who have a track record in good governance.
“I come in peace. I also come to appeal to you that on May 12, 2025, for us to be able to move forward, we need leaders who we can trust, leaders who have word of honor, leaders whose track record is not one of abuse of corruption but leaders whose track record is of honesty, good governance, and genuine service,” Pangilinan said.
“I come to you and appeal to you as a candidate. I believe it is my solemn duty as a candidate to win for the sake of good governance, for the sake of peace, and for the sake of unity. And I pray that you, too, will embrace this cause,” he added.
With 16 days left before Election Day, the former official urged the community to understand the power of their one vote.
“Sixteen days, eleksyon na. Tayo nasa Top 12, pero lima kami, so every vote counts. Pakiusap po natin, ilabas sa Facebook, Tiktok ang ating pag suporta sa aking kandidatura (It’s sixteen days before election. We are in the Top 12, but five of us are tied so every vote counts. We request that you openly campaign for us and show your support for our candidacy in Facebook and Tiktok),” he appealed.
