Manila Bulletin
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Marcos keen on boosting agri production to lower prices of goods
Philippines
National
Marcos keen on boosting agri production to lower prices of goods
Marcos keen on boosting agri production to lower prices of goods
By Raymund Antonio and Raymund Antonio
Published Jun 20, 2023 10:42 am
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Tuesday, June 20, said that he had instructed the Department of Agriculture (DA), which he heads in a concurrent capacity, to boost the local production of agricultural products in a bid for lower prices of goods.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. speaks during the 125th anniversary celebration of the Department of Agriculture (DA) on Tuesday, June 20, 2023. (Photo from the Presidential Communications Office)
The Chief Executive highlighted the need to find ways to increase agricultural productivity during a media interview after attending the 125th founding anniversary of the Agriculture department.
“Well, those two go hand-in-hand. The best way to improve, first of all, availability and to keep the prices down is to have a good level of production, na hindi tayo nabibiktima ng tinatawag na imported na inflation (that we are not being victimized by what we call imported inflation), which is what’s happening now kasi napipilitan tayong mag-import (because we are being forced to import),” Marcos said.
“We are doing everything that we can to increase production in all aspects. I’m not talking only about rice and corn kung ‘di pati na ang livestock, pati na ang fisheries (but also livestock and fisheries),” he added.
In a recent meeting with DA officials, he asked them to focus on programs that deal with boosting production.
He shared that as Agriculture chief, he had to lead the finalizing of what would be included in the National Expenditure Program (NEP) this year.
Marcos named the Soil Health Program, the Aquaculture Development Program, and the Biotech Research for Fisheries as the programs that he discussed with the DA officials.
“And I wanted to talk to the usecs (undersecretaries) and the other bureau chiefs kung ano ‘yung kailangan natin na ipaglaban doon sa budget (what we need to fight for in the budget). So that’s what we were doing upstairs and most of it has to do with increased production,” he said.
The Marcos administration would also enter into partnerships with the private sector to tap their expertise in creating an efficient value chain that would include even small farmers.
“And that’s why we are going to partnerships, PPP (public-private) partnerships, with some big groups, some small groups, some locals, some international para mabigyan tayo ng tulong para nga doon sa value chain na mabuo natin (to help us create that value chain),” he added.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. speaks during the 125th anniversary celebration of the Department of Agriculture (DA) on Tuesday, June 20, 2023. (Photo from the Presidential Communications Office)
The Chief Executive highlighted the need to find ways to increase agricultural productivity during a media interview after attending the 125th founding anniversary of the Agriculture department.
“Well, those two go hand-in-hand. The best way to improve, first of all, availability and to keep the prices down is to have a good level of production, na hindi tayo nabibiktima ng tinatawag na imported na inflation (that we are not being victimized by what we call imported inflation), which is what’s happening now kasi napipilitan tayong mag-import (because we are being forced to import),” Marcos said.
“We are doing everything that we can to increase production in all aspects. I’m not talking only about rice and corn kung ‘di pati na ang livestock, pati na ang fisheries (but also livestock and fisheries),” he added.
In a recent meeting with DA officials, he asked them to focus on programs that deal with boosting production.
He shared that as Agriculture chief, he had to lead the finalizing of what would be included in the National Expenditure Program (NEP) this year.
Marcos named the Soil Health Program, the Aquaculture Development Program, and the Biotech Research for Fisheries as the programs that he discussed with the DA officials.
“And I wanted to talk to the usecs (undersecretaries) and the other bureau chiefs kung ano ‘yung kailangan natin na ipaglaban doon sa budget (what we need to fight for in the budget). So that’s what we were doing upstairs and most of it has to do with increased production,” he said.
The Marcos administration would also enter into partnerships with the private sector to tap their expertise in creating an efficient value chain that would include even small farmers.
“And that’s why we are going to partnerships, PPP (public-private) partnerships, with some big groups, some small groups, some locals, some international para mabigyan tayo ng tulong para nga doon sa value chain na mabuo natin (to help us create that value chain),” he added.