Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan ’81 has been elected chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform.

His colleagues elected Pangilinan to lead the committee tasked with addressing measures on food production and security a day after he aligned with the Senate majority, while vowing to remain “fiercely independent.”

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., in his State of the Nation Address delivered on Monday, vowed to pursue food security, committing to expand nationwide the availability of P20-per-kilo rice.

“I am not a political ally of the administration but my 15 years experience in the agri and food sector both in the legislative and executive branches tells me that only if the executive and the legislative branches work together can we effectively bring down food prices and address hunger and food inflation,” Pangilinan said in the explanation of his vote.

Pangilinan in past Congresses served as chairman of the Committee on Agriculture from 2010 to 2013, and from 2016 to 2017.

“In 2014 and 2015, I carried it more forcefully in the executive department as Food Security Secretary, heading the critical agencies such as the National Food Authority, National Irrigation Administration, the Philippine Coconut Authority, and the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority,” Pangilinan said.

“From 2014 to 2015, we brought down rice inflation nationwide from 15% to .8% by running after smugglers, hoarders, cleansing the bureaucracy and corruption in the NFA rice supply management among others that led to a savings of 7 billion pesos of government rice imports,” he said.

“By September of 2015, we effectively managed rice prices and nationwide inflation was at its lowest in 20 years,” Pangilinan said.

Pangilinan said that Filipinos could buy more from the market with P500 to P1000.

“It is in this context that my decision to align with the majority and with the support of the majority of our colleagues secure the Chairmanship of the Senate Agriculture Committee,” Pangilinan said.

“Our nation is facing a food crisis, and high prices of food have led to unprecedented hunger incidence as well as unprecedented stunting among our children,” he added.

In his speech, Pangilinan recalled how the late Sen. Joker Arroyo '48 remained an independent member of the Senate even after joining the majority.

"In my nearly two decades as Senator, and nearly five years as Majority Leader, and I'm certain former Senate Presidents Sotto, Senators Legarda, and Lacson will agree with me, we have seen and worked with the likes of Senator Joker Arroyo, Senator Nene Pimentel, Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, Senator Sergio Osmena III, who, joining the majority while aligned with the minority, were on many burning issues of the day, a majority of one," Pangilinan said.

"They all serve as inspiration for this representation to remain fiercely independent, and if need be, act as a majority of one in the service of the nation," he added.