Marcos: The effort to increase local food output continues

SF | Marcos: The effort to increase local food output continues | MANILA – As promised, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said that efforts to strengthen agriculture and boost local production of the basic food would continue without hurting anyone.

“We are still working hard to improve the agriculture sector so that we can produce and supply more local food.” In his message read by Department of Agriculture Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban at the National Food Authority’s 51st anniversary party in Quezon City on Tuesday, he also said, “We also did outreach activities and provided food relief assistance to the needy members of our society.”

The price cap for regular milled rice is PHP41 per kg. and for well-milled rice it is PHP45 per kg. This was signed by Marcos’ Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on August 31.

The government also gives micro-rice sellers PHP15,000 in cash aid and sari-sari stores selling rice PHP5,000 through the Department of Social Welfare and Development, as long as they can prove they are legitimate.

“The government is also taking strong actions to protect the stable prices of basic goods, especially rice,” Marcos said. “These include stepping up law enforcement against smugglers, hoarders, and others who try to stop us from ensuring food security.”

Aside from that, the President said he has great hopes for SARAI, the NFA’s project to bring back farming as a major industry in the Philippines.

A study program called Project SARAI is trying to lower the risks of climate change. It is funded by the Department of Science and Technology through the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources study and Development.

Marcos also said, “Through this, we will be stepping up our efforts to provide smart and long-lasting solutions for more productive and proactive farming.” (via PNA)