DAVAO CITY – The Office of the Presidential Assistant for Mindanao-Eastern (OPAMINE) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) agreed to provide collaborative assistance for enhancing rice and various crops in Mindanao.

MAGNO (left) in a meeting with Laurel (second from right).
Presidential Assistant for Eastern Mindanao Leo Tereso Magno met DA Secretary Francisco Laurel to explore ways the agency can back farmers to improve their agricultural production and address other related concerns.
The meeting of the two officials stemmed from the marching order of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to the Agriculture Secretary regarding the modernization of the industry and ensuring there is enough affordable food on the table of every Filipino home.
Marcos cited the rising costs of agricultural commodities in the nation, climate change, and animal diseases, specifically in poultry. He also directed Laurel to focus on enhancing farm production and mechanization efforts.
Magno said that they aim to boost the agriculture industry of Eastern Mindanao for food security, not just in Mindanao but also the entire country. He added that they also aim to reduce the expenses associated with agricultural products, particularly in Mindanao, considered as the country’s food basket.