President Marcos said government agencies are working with farmers, cooperatives, and local government units to improve their production and eliminate middlemen from the equation.

During his visit at the Batangas Egg Producers Multipurpose Cooperative (BEPCO) in Batangas on Thursday, Aug. 27, Marcos emphasized the need to help farmers and their cooperatives in improving their production through research and development, and efforts to bring them closer to the markets. 

"So not only this is an example of what can be done when many agencies of government are working together, working hand in hand but also when we develop a proper technology, how we can in fact put up what is referred to as a circular business," Marcos said.

"In other words, walang tinatapon (nothing is put to waste). And that is again something very important because it's good for the environment and equally important the value added that comes from the processing," he added.

According to the President, egg production is a good example of this effort, noting that the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) helped with research and development to develop technologies for better processing, minimizing waste and introducing new processes. 

"So that even when there is not much of a market or demand for their eggs, they can process them in different ways to extend their shelf life for several weeks," Marcos explained.

"Some products, when properly frozen, can last for up to a year," he added.

The Chief Executive also said that the Department of Agriculture (DA) helped provide the necessary machinery and establish the system for collecting the eggs at BEPCO, while the DOST continues to monitor the products coming out of BEPCO to ensure that they meet standards and are suitable for export. 

"Pagkain ito kaya't dapat maselan tayo sa mga standards natin at nakikita naman natin, walang nasaayang dito, walang itinatapon (These are food products, so we have to be very strict about our standards. And as we can see, nothing is wasted here; nothing is thrown away)," Marcos said.

"Lahat ng value added sa itlog ay hindi na itlog lang ang pinagbibili kung hindi ang iba't ibang produkto, ang value added na iiwan dito (All the value added to the eggs means that we are no longer simply selling eggs. Instead, we are selling a variety of products, creating additional value that stays here)," Marcos added.

The President further said that what was done in BEPCO "is a continuing effort of the government to cut out the middle man between the farmer, between the producer and the market."

"And ito ang magandang halimbawa na kapag talagang nagtutulungan ang lahat ng mga ahensya ng pamahalaan, ng national government, ng local government at sa ating mga kooperatiba at mga producers ay makikita natin napakaganda magiging resulta (And this is a good example of how, when all government agencies—the national government, local government—as well as cooperatives and producers truly work together, we can achieve very positive results)," Marcos said.

"Ito'y nagsisimula pa lang at ipinagmamalaki nga sa ating ng presidente dito na pilot pa lang ito at nandiyan na ang mga bagong mankinarya at i-install na nila para mas dumami pa ang kanilang production (This is just the beginning. As the president here proudly told us, this is still only a pilot project, and new machinery is already there and will soon be installed so they can increase their production even further)," Marcos added.