Banga, South Cotabato
June 14, 2023

“Kaya ginawa nating prayoridad na kailangang kailangan na tiyakin nating unang-una na magkaroon ng sapat na food suplay. May sapat na pagkain para sa ating mga kababayan,” President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. vowed in reaffirming the Administration’s unyielding commitment to strengthen the nation’s agriculture by enhancing the consolidation and mechanization of all agricultural commodities and inputs.

In his visit to the Province of South Cotabato, the President reiterated the national government’s continuous support to all local farmers toward achieving good production and income as the Provincial Government launched the Consolidated Rice Production and Mechanization Program.

The program aims to make use of good agricultural practices, low cost production, efficient farm mechanization and value adding practices to improve the standard of the agricultural sector.

President Marcos Jr. underscored this project as an important aspect in fulfilling the government’s agenda of making the Philippines a rice-sufficient nation while at the same time, boost the productivity and welfare of farmers.

“Eto talaga ang aming naiisip na naco-consolidate niyo lahat ng iba’t ibang functions, lahat ng mga gawain para sa paghanda, para sa pagtulong sa mga magsasaka. Para sa pagbaba ng presyo ng processing at para naman mabalik sa ating mga magsasaka ang kikitain,” he conveyed in his keynote message.

The Chief Executive, as concurrent Agriculture Secretary, handed out PhP115 million worth of assistance from the Department of Agriculture (DA) to further maximize the Consolidated Rice Production and Mechanization Program. These include construction of the South Cotabato Integrated Rice Processing Center, warehouse, and the turnover of various agricultural machines and inputs such as hauling trucks, hybrid seeds, fertilizers and inbred rice varieties, among others.

*  *  *