By Kenneth Marcos 
Farmers and fisherfolk across the Philippines are waking up to brighter prospects after Republic Act No. 11321—better known as the “Sagip Saka Act”—got a major boost on October 25 2025. On that day, Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed Executive Order No. 101, s. 2025 (EO 101), directing all national agencies, government-owned corporations, state colleges and universities, and local government units to fully implement the law aimed at uplifting small farmers and fishers. PCO Mirror+2Philippine News Agency+2
A familiar sight becomes meaningful
Morning dew on rice paddies, fishers hauling in their catch as the sun rises—scenes that millions of farm and coastal families know all too well. For too long, many of them struggled with low incomes, weak market access and the middlemen taking most of the profit. Poverty among farmers and fisherfolk remains a persistent challenge, the government says. Philippine Information Agency+1 With EO 101, those long-standing issues are being addressed directly.
What EO 101 means
Under EO 101, all government arms must align their programs with the Sagip Saka Act, whose aims include:
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Building capacity among farmer and fisherfolk enterprises. Philippine News Agency+1
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Improving farmers’ access to markets, including direct government procurement of produce from accredited farmers’ and fisherfolk cooperatives and enterprises. PCO Mirror+1
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Promoting sustainable livelihoods and enterprise support for small agricultural producers. GMA Network
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Setting up “Sagip Saka Desks” in the regional and field offices of the Department of Agriculture (DA) to help with registration, coordination and information for farmers and fishers. Philippine News Agency+1
A key feature: government agencies and LGUs will be required to buy agricultural and fishery products directly from accredited small-producers without the normal bidding process—making it easier for farmers and fishers to access government procurement contracts. Philippine News Agency+1
Why it matters
For many agricultural families, this means two important things: more stable income and better market access. Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan—author of the Sagip Saka Act—called EO 101 a “big win” for farmers and fishers, saying it will help them live with dignity. Senate of the Philippines
By strengthening local procurement, the government also aims to ensure that food is grown, processed and consumed here in the Philippines rather than relying heavily on imports, which tend to put local producers at a disadvantage. Philippine Information Agency+1
Challenges ahead
Implementation is critical. Rolling out the law fully means agencies, LGUs and producers must coordinate and act fast. Authorities point out that the poverty rate among farming households remains high, and without swift action the benefits may not reach the intended people. GMA Network
Farmers will likely need more support on the ground—training, financing, infrastructure, market linkages—to make direct procurement meaningful. The success of Sagip Saka Act rests on whether small producers can meet the quality, volume and timeliness standards that government purchases require.
What this means for you
If you’re a farmer or fisherfolk member, this order opens new doors: you may now find it easier to sell your produce directly to the government or LGU institutions. And if you are a consumer, these reforms aim to keep food supply more stable and possibly prices more reasonable because local supply is strengthened.
The road ahead
Now that EO 101 is in effect, the next steps include agencies publishing the necessary guidelines, LGUs building partnerships with local producer groups, and the creation of monitoring mechanisms to ensure progress. The law envisions the Farmers and Fisherfolk Enterprise Development Council supervising implementation and reporting to the President. Philippine News Agency
With this major policy move, there is renewed hope for rural communities to build stronger, more sustainable livelihoods—and for Filipino families to benefit from a more secure food supply.
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