By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Taking cognizance of the needs of more than 9.7 million agricultural workers across the country, National Unity Party (NUP) president and Camarines Sur Rep. LRay Villafuerte has vigorously pushed for the swift passage of a bill seeking to establish an Agricultural Pension Fund (APF) to provide benefits to farmers and fisherfolk.
Under the proposed Agricultural Pension Fund (APF) Act contained in House Bill 7963, the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC) is mandated to craft and manage the first-ever pension fund for agricultural workers and fisherfolk.
“Our agricultural workers, especially farmers and fisherfolk, are among the poorest groups in our society and are not covered by any pension program of the government,” Villafuerte pointed out.
He explained that HB 7963 recognizes that “universal access to comprehensive and adequate social protection systems is an important tool to prevent and reduce poverty and inequality.”
“Our farmers and fisherfolk are an integral part of the country’s development, and deserve due recognition for their great contribution to society by providing them with pension benefits to assist them with their basic needs when they reach the age of retirement,” Villafuerte noted.
Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan also expressed strong support for the swift passage of HB 7963.
It was learned from Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data that as of 2028, there were almost 9.7 million agricultural workers.
Bicol region has about 698,000 of them.
(el Amigo/MNM)