Bureau of Soils and Water Management Convention Hall, Quezon City
July 18, 2022

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., as concurrent Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary, convened with the DA’s key officials to discuss the catch-up operation plan to enhance food production at the Bureau of Soils and Water Management Convention Hall in Quezon City.

Points of discussion included the operational plan and farm-to-market road (FMR) network plan, as well as a more efficient system of food mobilization across the country by capacitating the cooperatives and bringing in the Food Terminal Incorporated (FTI) to support the distribution of agricultural products especially to the vulnerable sectors of the community. All these are geared towards accelerating the implementation of programs, activities and projects (PAPs) for rice, corn, fisheries, vegetable, livestock and poultry production.

The Chief Executive further instructed the Department to anchor the existing PAPs with the present situation of the agricultural sector. The possibility of government-to-government (G2G) negotiations was also highlighted during the meeting with the intent to decrease expenditures in subsidizing raw products — such as fertilizers — and maximize government fund in addressing other concerns of local farmers.

Agriculture is one of the priority sectors of President Marcos Jr. as he seeks to strengthen the country’s food supply chain.

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