The Senate Committee on Agriculture will investigate allegations that traders are using fake farmers’ cooperatives and repacked imported rice to exploit government procurement privileges under the Sagip Saka Law.

Committee chair Sen. Francis Pangilinan said the panel is verifying reports that cooperatives accredited under the Farmers and Fisherfolk Enterprise Development Information System (FFEDIS) are being used to access negotiated procurement intended for legitimate farmers’ organizations.

The committee is coordinating with the Department of Agriculture and other agencies to determine the extent of the alleged irregularities and identify those responsible.

A Senate hearing on the full implementation of the Sagip Saka Law is set on July 16 under Senate Resolution No. 9 filed by Pangilinan.

The inquiry will examine reports that some traders allegedly created or used bogus cooperatives to qualify for direct government transactions and that imported rice was repacked and falsely marketed as locally produced.

Pangilinan said the investigation aims to strengthen safeguards, improve the verification of accredited groups, and protect opportunities intended for legitimate farmers and fisherfolk.

He stressed that the Sagip Saka Law was enacted to benefit genuine agricultural producers, adding that farmers and fisherfolk should not suffer from corruption while already facing challenges brought by natural calamities.