President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. wants all efforts to increase food production in the country to be backed by science.
The President, who is also the Agriculture secretary, stated during his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 25, that all efforts in increasing the production of agricultural goods—from farming, fishery, and poultry —must be science-based.
"Ipaprayoridad natin ang modernisasyon ng mga sakahan sa pamamagitan ng mga makabagong teknolohiya para sa ating mga magsasaka. Ating palalawakin ang mga palaisdaan, babuyan at manukan. Lahat ng ito, gagamitan ng siyensya para tumaas ang produksyong agrikultural (We will prioritize the modernization of farms through modern technology. We will further improve fishery, swine, and poultry. All of this will be backed by science to increase our agricultural production)," Marcos said in his SONA, which lasted for over an hour.
This is in line with his long-term goal for the agriculture sector to modernize agricultural production in the country.
It includes researching for new processes of farming and aligning production of farm inputs based on the challenges brought by climate change and global warming.
"Mahigpit na pagsusuri ang gagawin ng ating mga eksperto tungo dito (Our experts will thoroughly study this)," Marcos said.
The government under his watch, Marcos added, will also support the improvement of post-production and processing through establishing a national network of farm-to-market roads for the smoother movement of goods.
He also mentioned reviving Kadiwa Centers around the country to bring affordable food supply to communities.
In order to address the surging prices of food commodities, Marcos ordered the Department of Agriculture to offer financial and technical support to farmers in order to increase the production of agricultural goods in the next planting season.
For the long-term solution to the impending food crisis, Marcos will rely on strengthening and coordinating the value chain in an attempt to produce ample food supply that will sustain food security in the country.