Senior Deputy Speaker and former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has praised the Philippine Association of Food Technologists, Inc. (PAFT) for supporting the Marcos administration’s call toward human security, which he said was hinged on food.
“Because the world is in the midst of a technological revolution, food tech is leading the way in transforming the global food sector," Arroyo, Pampanga’s 2nd district representative, said in her speech during the recent 61st annual convention of the PAFT.
The PAFT’s convention theme for this year is "Food for all--Responding to the need of the global market."
“Food tech is increasing food production to help reduce the rate of hunger and feed the world. The expansion and diversification of the food trade can be attributed, among other factors, to the discipline of food technology which is continuously providing a broader range of foods by developing new and more sophisticated preservation, processing and packaging techniques which make foods safer, less perishable and more attractive to the consumer," she said.
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., in his concurrent role as Department of Agriculture (DA) secretary, has been bent on increasing food production in the country amid global supply shortages and price spikes caused by inflation.
Taking note of the convention theme, Arroyo lauded the PAFT "for designing your program to inspire and feature sustained local farming, innovative solutions and technologies and latest consumer trends to help advance food safety, nutrition and regulations in the Philippines and the global market".
"A strong national food industry is an important supplier of food to the population and a significant contributor to food security," she added.
The House senior deputy speaker further lauded the PAFT for supporting Marcos's goals towards human security, quoting what the President stated at the recently-concluded Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit: “Food is not just a trade commodity, it is not a livelihood; it is a survival imperative, it is a moral imperative. It is the very basis of human security."
Although she did not mention it in her speech, Arroyo emphasized food security, particularly rice sufficiency, during her presidency. In the early part of her term, rice costing P16 to P18 per kilo was made available at particular stores accessible to the most vulnerable sectors.
When prices of imported rice doubled during the 2008 recession, she ordered the National Food Authority (NFA) to subsidize rice prices so the agency could continue selling rice at P18.25 per kilo. Cheaper rice was sold at NFA and certain government-run outlets.
Arroyo was the chief executive from 2001 to 2010.