Malate, Manila
September 26, 2023

“Patuloy po tayong gumagawa ng mga konkretong solusyon upang matugunan ang mga problemang kinahaharap ng sektor ng agrikultura,” said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., who also serves as the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA), as he led the distribution of 1,000 sacks of confiscated smuggled rice at the San Andres Sports Complex in Malate, City of Manila.

He also mentioned various government initiatives aimed at cushioning the challenges faced by the agriculture sector. “Patuloy pa rin ang ating pagsulong para sa modernisasyon sa pagsasaka upang madagdagan ang suplay at ani,” he added. The Chief Executive emphasized in his speech that the supply of rice in the country is sufficient, but it requires proper management of its production and sales.

President Marcos Jr. also pointed out that hoarding, smuggling, and price manipulation conducted by exploitative businessmen disrupt the balance of rice supply and prices. “Inaatasan ko ang lahat ng mga opisyal, awtoridad, at mga ahensya na higpitan ang pagpapatupad ng mga polisiya at batas hinggil sa isyu ng bigas,” he said. He stressed that such anomalies are no longer possible in the ‘Bagong Pilipinas’.

“Ang hamon ko sa inyo, mga kapwa Pilipino, ay magtulungan po tayo upang maisaayos ang ating agrikultura at maisakatuparan ang pangarap nating Bagong Pilipinas,” the President concluded in his speech.

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