Agricultural reforms key to strong PH economy – Marcos

Marcos also emphasized that the success of the Kadiwa ng Pangulo program relies on the initiatives that his administration would undertake to reinvigorate the agriculture sector. (PCO File Photo)

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday stressed the importance of implementing reforms in the agriculture sector to keep the Philippine economy robust.

During his visit to Kadiwa ng Pangulo stalls in Butuan City, Agusan del Norte, Marcos renewed his vow to put a premium on the agricultural industry to boost productivity and farmers’ livelihood.

“Kahit na ano pang gawin natin ‘na pagandahin ang ekonomiya, kung hindi natin maayos ang agrikultura, hindi po natin mapapaganda at mapapagtibay ang ekonomiya, lalo ngayon, maraming pangyayari, maraming pagbabago(Whatever we do to improve the economy, if we fail to revitalize the agriculture sector, we would not be able to improve our economy and make it robust, especially now that there are lot of developments and challenges),” Marcos said.

“Kaya’t kailangan magaling tayong mag-adjust. Kailangan matibay ang ating sistema, ang sektor ng agrikultura upang tumibay lahat ng ibang sector (That is why we need to adjust. We need to have a stable agriculture sector to make all the other sectors strong),” he added.

Marcos also emphasized that the success of the Kadiwa ng Pangulo program relies on the initiatives that his administration would undertake to reinvigorate the agriculture sector.

During the event, Marcos had a tour of the booths and stalls of 10 Kadiwa financial grant beneficiaries and five Kadiwa retail selling suppliers offering affordable goods, fruits, vegetables, rice, seafood and processed food products.

“Hindi natin iniisip ang production lamang kundi pati na ang kinikita ng ating mga magsasaka. Dahil napaka-importante po (We are prioritizing both the [agricultural] production and the farmers’ income. That’s very important),” he said.

Launched in November 2022, the Kadiwa ng Pangulo pop-up stores remove middlemen in the movement of agricultural products from farms to consumers, allowing food and agricultural products to be sold at cheaper prices.

Kadiwa stalls were the brainchild of Marcos’ parents, the late president Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. and former First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos.

Aid distribution

Meantime, Marcos also led the ceremonial turnover of various government assistance to intended recipients in a program at the provincial capitol grounds in Butuan City.

The scholarship tool kits from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority were distributed to indigenous people beneficiaries.

Marcos also led the distribution of coconut seedlings to farmers from the Philippine Coconut Authority; units of complete harvesters from the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization; and fertilizers, hauling trucks and farm tractors from the Department of Agriculture.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources also gave fabricated reinforced plastic boats to fisherfolk recipients.

Beneficiaries also received government assistance through the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) Program, the Department of Labor And Employment’s (DOLE) Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) Program, and DA’s Integrated National Swine Production Initiatives for Recovery and Expansion (INSPIRE) Project.

Marcos vowed continued assistance to the needy Filipinos, especially those who were forced to bear the brunt of the adverse impacts of the pandemic during the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in 2020.

“Kaya po nandito lang po naman kami. Ito ‘yung sadya namin na titiyakin na ‘yung mga nangangailangan pa ay matutugunan at mabibigyan natin ng kaunting tulong (We are just here. Our goal is to provide assistance to those who need our help),” he said.

“Nagsisimula pa lang po tayo. Ngunit patuloy nating gagawin ito. Walang tigil ito hanggang masabi natin wala ng nangangailangan ngTUPAD, wala ng nangangailangan ng AICS, wala ng nangangailangan ng ganyang klaseng cash transfer dahil may trabaho na lahat. Iyon ang aking hangarin. Iyon po ang hinahabol natin kaya’t magtulungan tayo (It’s just the beginning. We will continue to do this. It will be relentless until we are able to say that no one needs the TUPAD, AICS and other forms of assistance because everybody has jobs already. That’s my intention. That’s what we are aiming for so let’s help each other),” Marcos added.