By Stephanie Sevillano | Philippine News Agency
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. highlighted Monday the country’s record-high local palay production despite the effects of the El Niño phenomenon and global challenges.
”Sa kabila ng hamon na ating kinakaharap, nasaksihan natin ang pinakamataas na ani ng palay sa bansa nitong nakalipas na taon. Pumalo ito sa lagpas dalawampung milyong tonelada, pinakamataas na ani mula 1987,” he said during the third State of the Nation Address (SONA).
Marcos, however, reported that this is only equivalent to 13 million tons of rice, short of the country’s 16 million tons demand, which prompted importation.
The Chief Executive vowed to prioritize boosting local production and improving the entire value chain in the agriculture sector to address the spiking prices of retail rice.
”Lokal na produksyon pa rin ang ating bibigyan ng halaga. Kaya patuloy nating sinusuportahan ang sektor ng agrikultura upang mapabilis, mapadali at mapalakas ang produksyon,” Marcos added.
Kadiwa centers
Marcos also vowed to continue operating Kadiwa centers nationwide to provide cheaper rice and basic commodities to Filipinos.
Through the Kadiwa centers, the vulnerable sector, including members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), senior citizens, solo parents, and persons with disabilities (PWDs), secured access to the aging but good rice stocks from the National Food Authority (NFA) worth P29 per kilogram.
The Chief Executive, meanwhile, mentioned the continuing actions to combat illegal price manipulations and agricultural smuggling in the country, with the seizure of around P2.7 billion worth of smuggled agricultural commodities.
“We were constrained to temporarily implement mandated price ceilings of rice. We also extended the reduced tariff rates on the importation of rice, corn, and pork until the end of this year,” Marcos added, saying these are just temporary actions to minimize its impact.
Overall, Marcos reported the distribution of over 100 million kilograms of seedlings and fertilizers to farmers, more than 300,000 layers to the poultry sector, provision of technical and financial assistance to modernize farming, and the target completion of 1,200 kilometers of farm-to-market roads, among others.
For the fishing sector, the Marcos administration distributed over 500,000 fingerlings, 3,000 fishing vessels, and improved fish ports and cold-storage facilities, as well as the target rollout of vaccines against African swine fever (ASF) to help the poultry sector recover.