If the country's agriculture sector will not improve, the economy will not prosper, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said. President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. (Noel Pabalate)
Speaking before the farmers in Agusan Del Norte on Wednesday, July 12, Marcos reiterated the crucial role of agriculture in improving the country's economy. “Nakita namin kahit ano pang gawin natin na pagandahin ang ekonomiya kung hindi natin maayos ang agrikultura, hindi po natin mapapaganda at mapapatibay ang ating ekonomiya. Lalo ngayon ay maraming pangyayari, maraming pagbabago (We have seen that whatever we do to improve the economy if we don't fix  our agriculture sector, we will not be able to improve and boost our economy, especially now that a lot is happening and many changes),” Marcos said during the distribution of various government assistance in Butuan City. The President emphasized that a strong agriculture sector will also bolster other industries, noting that even the rich and big corporations believe that agriculture is crucial to achieve a strong economy and other industries. He also highlighted the need to boost agricultural production to sustain the need of Kadiwa stores being launched by the administration in different parts of the country. The Kadiwa program is a farm-to-consumer market chain that eliminates intermediaries, allowing local producers to generate higher income by selling their produce directly to consumers. More than 20 participants from the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) joined the Kadiwa ng Pangulo launched in Butuan City. Among those distributed by the President to farmer associations in Butuan City and Agusan del Norte include nine palay harvester units. The chief executive, through the DA, also distributed 100 sacks of fertilizer to more than 700 farmers in the province in addition to agricultural vehicles. Twenty units of fabricated fiberglass reinforced fishing boats were also handed over to fisherfolks under the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) fishery program. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-CARAGA also joined the President’s event through a Job Fair at the Agusan del Norte Provincial Capitol covered court in Butuan City. Some 20 local companies offered 831 jobs while three entities for overseas deployment made available 434 job vacancies during the Job Fair. A total of 61 beneficiaries under the DOLE’s Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) received payouts amounting P213,500.