‘Join the forum. Your voice matters’: BM Donaal urges Kalinga farmers to seize July 27 forum to shape agriculture policies

Tabuk City, Kalinga – Kalinga Board Member Atty. Christopher Donaal is urging farmers across the province to take advantage of the Farmers' Forum on July 27, 2026, describing it as a rare opportunity for them to directly raise their concerns, ask questions, and help shape future agricultural programs and policies.

The forum, which will be held at the Kalinga Sports Complex, is sponsored by Donaal, a member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Committee on Agriculture.

Designed primarily for rice and corn farmers, the activity aims to provide a venue where they can openly discuss the challenges affecting their livelihoods while receiving updates on government programs and interventions intended to improve agricultural production.

The forum will also coincide with the 2026 Cordillera Farm Mechanization Roadshow, where participants will be introduced to modern farm machinery and technologies that can help improve productivity, reduce labor, and lower production costs.

In an interview with Guru Press Cordillera, Donaal said the forum is more than just a consultation—it is an opportunity for farmers to make their voices heard directly by provincial officials and national government agencies responsible for agriculture.

"Every farmer deserves to be heard. Umay kayon to kakailyan nga farmers ditoy Kalinga. This is your opportunity to speak, ask questions, and let us hear the realities you face in your farms so we can work together on solutions that truly respond to your needs," Donaal said.

The provincial legislator emphasized that the success of government programs depends on listening to the experiences of the people working in the fields.

He encouraged farmers not to miss the event, stressing that their participation will help the provincial government craft more responsive policies and ordinances based on actual conditions in farming communities.

"Awisek manen dakayo nga makiparticipate idiay forum. Your presence and your voice matter because every concern you share will help us build better ordinances, stronger programs, and a brighter future for agriculture in our province," he added.

Continuing advocacy for farmers

The July 27 Farmers' Forum is part of Donaal's continuing advocacy to protect and promote the welfare of Kalinga's farmers.

His commitment to the sector led to the enactment of the Kalinga Fair Trade for Farmers Ordinance of 2025, a landmark measure crafted in response to repeated complaints from farmers who said they were forced to sell their rice and corn at unfairly low prices because of abusive trading practices.

Before the ordinance was passed, Donaal also organized a farmers' consultation on October 27, where recommendations and concerns raised by participants helped shape the final provisions of the law.

The ordinance prohibits anti-competitive practices among traders, including price-fixing, market allocation, coercion, exclusive dealing, and fraudulent transactions. It also requires traders to register and comply with standard weighing, grading, and pricing based on benchmark farmgate prices published by the Provincial Agricultural Office.

For Donaal, the upcoming Farmers' Forum is not only a venue for dialogue but also an important data-gathering platform that could pave the way for additional ordinances and programs aimed at addressing the evolving needs of Kalinga's farming sector.

He said every concern raised during the forum brings the province one step closer to developing practical, farmer-centered solutions that will strengthen agriculture and improve the lives of farming families across Kalinga.