Presidential candidate and Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso on Monday, March 7, said he will push for self-sufficiency in food in the country amid fears that prices of wheat will also go up due to the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
“Hindi pwedeng asa tayo ng asa sa importation ng pagkain, para ma-control ang food price inflation. Kapag nagka-aberya sa ibang panig ng daigdig, tulad nitong Russia-Ukraine conflict kung saan, liban sa gas at langis, e pati wheat, patatas, mais at iba pa, paano kung mawalan tayo ng supply ng imported na pagkain at basic necessities? (We cannot rely on food imports to control food price inflation. When things go wrong on the other side of the world, like this Russia-Ukraine conflict where, aside from the gas and oil, the wheat, potatoes, corn will also be affected. What if we lose the supply of imported food and basic necessities?),” he said during his visit to the San Andres Sports Complex.
“Kanya kailangan nating pag-ibayuhin ang produksyon sa agrikultura (We have to boost agricultural production). Let’s strive for food self-sufficiency. Madami pa tayong lupang tiwangwang, napapalibutan tayo ng dagat na may isda. Let’s strive for food self-sufficiency. (We still have a lot of desolate land, we are surrounded by sea teeming with fish and other marine resources) It is a matter of the highest priority, because food insecurity is the biggest threat to national security,” Domagoso pointed out.
According to the International Grains Council, prices of wheat have surged 55 percent since a week before the tensions between Ukraine and Russia erupted.
Should the war continue, countries that rely on affordable wheat exports from Ukraine could face shortages starting July.
Domagoso had earlier vowed that he would push for the passage of a measure condoning the loans of agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) from the Land Bank of the Philippines if he gets elected.
The Manila Mayor has also been proposing the slashing of excise tax on petroleum products by 50 percent to help the farmers and fisherfolks in the country.
Under his administration, Domagoso assured that the rice and vegetables of local farmers will be bought at the right price and will issue clear guidelines on the strict importation of agricultural products to make sure that local producers can sell their products first before importation is made.
In his visit to rice farmers in Kalinga on Saturday, March 5, Domagoso said he would also push for amendments to the Rice Tariffication Law.
Agriculture is among the main pillars under Domagoso’s 10-point Bilis Kilos Economic Agenda.
Domagoso and Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna were at the San Andres Sports Complex to visit the fresh batch of food boxes that will be distributed this month to 700,000 families residing in the six districts of Manila.
This is part of the city government’s Food Security Program (FSP), which Moreno launched at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020.