Believing that “the strengthening of the agricultural sector is the strengthening of survival and the strengthening of life”, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr., who is also agriculture secretary, vowed to support the agriculture sector as the government continues the fight against hunger.

Speaking at the opening of Agrilink/Foodlink/Aqualink Trade Fairs 2022 at World Trade Center in Pasay City yesterday, Oct. 6, Marcos assured that he has been prioritizing the agriculture sector ever since the beginning of his term.

“The strengthening of the agricultural sector is the strengthening of survival, the strengthening of life. And that is how important we have always considered the agricultural sector. And that is why I took on the portfolio,” he said.

“As soon as I took office as President, I decided to take on the portfolio of the Secretary of Agriculture, not only to highlight the importance with which this administration puts on the agricultural sector but also to accelerate the development of that value chain. The strengthening of all our services that we give to our people in terms of food production, in terms of food supply, and our efforts to keep all our food products, all our agricultural commodities at a price that ordinary citizens can afford,” he continued.

Marcos, however, admitted that the work to improve the sector and the plight of agrifolk has only just begun.

“We need to continue to open more opportunities to improve their well-being. We are presently only playing catch-up. We have allowed the agriculture sector to diminish in its importance and in its contribution to our GDP, our contribution to the welfare of ordinary citizens, ordinary Filipinos,” he noted, highlighting the importance of the trade event.

“Occasions such as this are just the highly appropriate times for which we can remind ourselves that what we are doing is not only growing crops, not only expanding fisheries, not only helping our livestock growers, but what we are is feeding a nation. And in feeding a nation, we also provide the stability for that nation, for the Philippines to be able to look forward to the future and say we can progress from here because we have a strong foundation in our agricultural sector. Without a strong agricultural sector that is not possible,” he went on.

The president added that trade events improve the agricultural value chain and aid in the overall development of the small and medium-scale enterprises in the agribusiness sector through the creation of market opportunities.

“Trade events like Agrilink, Foodlink, and Aqualink help us support our farmers and our fisherfolk. We empower them to become catalysts who will contribute to the recovery and inclusive growth of our economy. So it is my hope that as we engage in the exchange of ideas and learn from one another during this trade fair, we will also commit ourselves to once again synergizing our efforts towards the country’s agricultural and economic productivity,” he emphasized.

Before ending his speech, Marcos called on the participants and urged them to remember the needs of their countrymen.

“Huwag natin pong kalimutan ang ating pangarap para sa ating mga minamahal na kababayan. Sana wala ng gutom na Pilipino,” he expressed.