Filipino farmers can expect the government's full support amid the challenges brought about by both man-made and natural disasters, especially the El Niño phenomenon, President Marcos said.

Marcos told farmers in a ceremonial palay harvesting and distribution of various assistance in Pampanga over the weekend that the government is always on the back of the farmers to support all of their endeavors.

“Kaya’t asahan ninyo na sasamahan kayo ng ating pamahalaan sa inyong mga pagsisikap nang makamit ninyo ang lahat ng inyong mithiin at mga pangarap (Expect that the government will be with you in your endeavors to achieve all your dreams and aspirations),” the President said.

“Ang ating pagtutulungan na mapaunlad ang ating sektor ng agrikultura ay isa lamang sa mga pangunahing hakbang tungo sa pagbuo ng isang Bagong Pilipinas – kung saan walang nagugutom at ang lahat ng masigabong kumikilos para sa mas masaganang kinabukasan (Our effort to develop our agriculture sector is one of the primary steps towards a new Philippines where no one would be hungry and every one are working together for an abundant future),” he added.

Marcos made the commitment as he led the distribution of hauling trucks, seeds, financial assistance, among others to over 12,000 farmers and ten farmers’ cooperatives and associations in Barangay Mandili, Candaba, Pampanga.

'We will face El Niño together'

Amid the looming El Niño threats in the agriculture sector, Marcos also vowed to the farmers that the government will be with them in facing the phenomenon.

"Andiyan po ang El Niño na kasalukuyang nagdudulot ng malawakang pinsala at perwisyo sa ating mga pananim at sa ating mga magsasaka. Inaasahan nating titindi pa hanggang sa susunod na buwan ng Pebrero (El Niño is currently here causing widespread damage to our crops and agriculture. We expect it to worsens until February)," he said.

He noted that El Niño is expected to last until June and will continue to threaten the agriculture sector until the remaining months of 2024. So, he made a promise to the farmers that the government will continue to support them in this challenge.

"Gayunpaman, hindi tayo natatakot; sa halip, buong loob at lakas at sama-sama nating haharapin ang El Niño (Nevertheless, we are not scared; instead we will face El Niño courageously and together)," Marcos said.

The Chief Executive assured them that the administration has already laid out several programs to mitigate the effects of the El Niño phenomenon and to support the affected farmers to ensure that their harvest will not be affected.

He further said that the government will continue to push for infrastructure development, information dissemination, and strengthen the water irrigation system through the Philippine Solar-irrigation Project and Small-scale Irrigation Projects.  

He also emphasized that the government has allotted P31 billion under the National Rice Program to intensify the administration’s programs such as the production support, extension services, research and development, and irrigation network services.

He added that the government will also utilize the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund to strengthen the agriculture sector and to assist farmers while a huge chunk of the fund will be used for the distribution of tillers, tractors, seeders, threshers, rice planters, reapers, driers, among others.

The government, he also said, has allotted funds to provide additional cash assistance to farmers, which is led by the Land Bank of the Philippines and the Development Bank of the Philippines.

Farmers will also be introduced to modern farming through the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech), Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), Agricultural Training Institute, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), according to Marcos.