Sagip Saka Act: Empowering Farmers Through Direct Government Support

The Sagip Saka Act or Republic Act No. 11321, signed into law in April 2019, is a landmark legislation that strengthens the agriculture sector by promoting inclusive and sustainable agricultural and fisheries development. It aims to empower Filipino farmers and fisherfolk by linking them directly with government and institutional markets, thereby increasing their income and improving their quality of life.

Key Provisions of the Sagip Saka Act

The law institutionalizes the “Farmers and Fisherfolk Enterprise Development Program” (FFEDP)—a comprehensive approach to strengthen the capacity of farmers and fisherfolk enterprises through:

• Market access – Encouraging government agencies and local government units (LGUs) to directly purchase agricultural products from duly accredited farmers’ cooperatives and associations (FCAs) and agrarian reform beneficiaries’ organizations (ARBOs) without public bidding under certain conditions, as allowed by procurement rules.

• Capacity building – Providing training, mentoring, and technical support to enhance productivity, product quality, and enterprise management.

• Financial and credit assistance – Facilitating access to credit, crop insurance, and government grants for farm inputs and postharvest facilities.

• Infrastructure support – Improving farm-to-market roads, irrigation, and processing centers to reduce production costs and postharvest losses.

How It Benefits Farmers

The Sagip Saka Act addresses one of the biggest challenges faced by Filipino farmers—market instability and low farmgate prices. By promoting direct procurement and removing middlemen, the law ensures that farmers receive a fair price for their produce.

It also promotes value chain integration, encouraging farmers to become not just producers but also entrepreneurs. Through enterprise development, cooperatives can process and package their products, adding value and creating local jobs.

Benefits to Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs)

For agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) organized into ARBOs, the Sagip Saka Act is particularly transformative. It complements the Department of Agrarian Reform’s (DAR) programs by:

• Providing ready markets for ARBO-produced goods through partnerships with schools, hospitals, prisons, and other government institutions.

• Strengthening ARBOs’ business capacity, enabling them to participate in government procurement under the Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (PAHP) and similar programs.

• Encouraging collaboration between DAR, DA, DTI, and LGUs to provide postharvest and marketing support.

• Enhancing livelihood sustainability, ensuring that ARBs who received land under CARP also have the means to make their farms profitable.

Impact on Rural Communities

The law fosters a farm-to-institution model that stimulates local economies and ensures food security. Government agencies now serve as reliable buyers of local produce, creating a steady income stream for farmers and ARBOs. This not only uplifts individual livelihoods but also revitalizes rural communities by generating employment and promoting self-reliance.

Conclusion

The Sagip Saka Act stands as a bridge between government support and grassroots empowerment. By connecting agrarian reform beneficiaries and small farmers directly to institutional markets, it transforms agriculture into a more profitable and dignified livelihood.

Ultimately, the law reinforces the vision of inclusive rural development, where no farmer is left behind and every harvest contributes to the nation’s food security and prosperity.