Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva filed Monday a resolution seeking a legislative inquiry into the status of food security in the Philippines.
In proposed Senate Resolution 385, Villanueva said there is a need for a holistic assessment of all government programs and policies related to food security, including agriculture, fisheries, and nutrition to determine the necessary adjustments in the country's approach.
The senator said 25 years since the passage of Republic Act 8434 or the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act in 1997, the goal of achieving food security is yet to be realized. He said the rising prices of food is the biggest driver of inflation in the country, noting the inflation rate of 8% in November 2022—the highest recorded percentage since November 2008.