ILOILO CITY — Secretary William Dar of the Department of Agriculture (DA) led the review of the country’s food security plan amidst the impact of the war in Ukraine.

“This is to prevent further agricultural economic slowdown and threats of food insecurity caused by the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and the ongoing pandemic,” said Dar, who was in Iloilo City for the three-day management committee meetings.

To avert food shortage, DA launched the second part of its Plant, Plant, Plant program.

“Given the limited resources, the DA determined five focus areas to boost and fund instantly to accelerate local food production despite worsening global concerns,” said Dar.

The DA is also eyeing to realign its budget which started when it had sought an additional P8 billion for farmers’ fertilizer subsidy.

“We ask the government to give an additional budget to sustain and level up food production, making the prices more affordable and supplies more accessible,” Dar told other DA officials.

Dar said DA’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) is also seeking more intervention and research on aquaculture and mariculture that can boost fish or seafood production.

Another key intervention is food marketing systems through the Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita and while boosting logistics assistance to farmer cooperatives and associations by mobilizing food surplus to deficient areas.