The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 8 (DA-8) recently cascaded the key provisions of the Sagip Saka Act to stakeholders in Eastern Visayas through an orientation held at the DA RFO 8 Carpark on April 14, 2025, to raise awareness of the law’s benefits across the region’s agricultural sector, especially among farmers and fisherfolk.

Ms. Maria Rufelie S. Gula, Chief of the Agricultural and Cooperative Enterprise Development Division (ACEDD) and Sagip Saka and F2C2 Focal Person, noted that among the key provisions of the Act are the establishment of a palay price floor and the mandate for government institutions to directly procure agricultural commodities from farmers and fisherfolk whenever such products are needed. These mechanisms aim to ensure fairer prices for producers while opening more stable and reliable markets for their produce.

Under the law, national and local government agencies are encouraged to directly procure agricultural and fishery products from accredited farmers’ and fisherfolk cooperatives and enterprises, enabling producers to access institutional markets while reducing the role of intermediaries.

The program also provides support services such as market access facilitation, networking, and capacity-building to strengthen farmer organizations and enhance their participation in agribusiness ventures.

The activity gathered representatives from government institutions, farmer and fisherfolk organizations, and other stakeholders to deepen their understanding of the law and its mechanisms that promote direct market linkages between agricultural producers and institutional buyers.

Through the orientation, DA 8 highlighted that the Sagip Saka Act institutionalizes the Farmers and Fisherfolk Enterprise Development Program (FEED), which supports the development of enterprises engaged in the processing, trading, and distribution of agricultural and fishery products.

In his message, DA 8 Regional Executive Director Rodel G. Macapañas encouraged stakeholders to help further disseminate the provisions of the law and the various interventions of the Department of Agriculture to provide clarity and ensure that more farmers and fisherfolk benefit from the opportunities it provides.

The initiative forms part of DA 8’s continuing efforts to operationalize the Sagip Saka Act in Eastern Visayas and advance rural livelihoods while contributing to the country’s broader food security goals.