President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. is hopeful that the Philippines would achieve 100-percent rice sufficiency or even higher if the farming mechanisms currently in place are successful. President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. (Photo courtesy of Malacañang)
In his vlog, Marcos said the goal will be achieved through the government's consolidation of farming lands and mechanization, which was recently launched in South Cotabato. "Sapat at murang pagkain pa rin ang siyang tanging magpapalaya sa atin mula sa gutom kung kaya't walang tigil ang paglulunsad ng mga ganitong klaseng programa sa ating mga agricultural regions (Enough and affordable food are still the ones that would free us from hunger, this is why we keep on launching programs like this in our agricultural regions)," Marcos said. "Kapag matagumpay ito, buong bansa ang makikinabang at maaaring mahigitan pa natin ang 100 percent rice sufficiency (If this will be successful, the whole country will benefit from it and we could even go beyond 100-percent rice sufficiency)," Marcos added. The President cited rice sufficiency as among the "freedoms" that his administration must attain from various "unfreedoms" lingering in the country. In his Independence Day speech, he mentioned hunger and poverty as among the "unfreedoms" the Philippines must resolve. "Ang paglaya mula sa kahirapan ay isang patuloy na digmaan na hinaharap ng ating pamahalaan kaya't ang distribusyon ng tulong na pansamantalang umaakay sa ating mga kababayan ay hindi mawawala (The freedom from poverty remains a battle faced by the government, so the distribution of aid to temporarily help our countrymen will not stop)," he said. He also explained that providing various government assistance also gives the beneficiaries an opportunity to earn on their own and not rely on government aid all the time. Mechanization programs, livelihood assistance, and free training from the government "are an opportunity for Filipinos to earn a living and not only depend on assistance from the government." The chief executive also believes that Filipinos are naturally hard working, and would rather work than wait for "ayuda." "Ganyan talaga ang Filipino mentality, mas gusto nilang magtrabaho kaysa umasa sa ayuda (That's the Filipino mentality, they want to work rather than rely on government assistance)," he said. "Ito ay halimbawa ng kalayaan mula sa kakulangan ng oportunidad na makapamuhay (This is an example of freedom from the lack of opportunity to get a job)," he added.