World Trade Center, Pasay City
5 July 2012
The Philippines will be rice self-sufficient in 2013 and might even be able to export it next year. This was the good news announced by President Benigno S. Aquino III as he graced the 2nd Agricultural Machinery Exposition or the Makina Saka 2012 Roadshow held at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.
During the program, the President was given a copy of the Food Staples Sufficiency Program (FSSP) book that outlines three major government interventions aimed at ensuring food security for each Filipino family and restoring the farmers’ trust in government through a decent and rising standard of living.
“Sa pamamagitan ng ating Food Staples Sufficiency Program, hindi daw po magtatagal, maging ang iba pang produkto tulad ng mais at cassava, pati ang iba pang prutas at gulay, hindi na rin natin kailangang angkatin pa,” President Aquino said.
He added that the government increased the funds allotted for the purchase of around seven thousand postharvest machineries and other equipment this year to P2.6 billion from P1 billion last 2011. “Maliban dito, namumuhunan din tayo sa rehabilitasyon at pagkukumpuni ng mga irigasyon. Ginagawa natin ito, hindi lamang para madagdagan ang bukid na maaaring taniman, kundi para rin masiguro na matataniman ang lupa kahit sa panahon ng tagtuyot,” the President stated.
The Makina Saka 2012 Agri-Machinery Roadshow is part of the 114th anniversary celebration of the Department of Agriculture. An exhibit featuring the modern farming equipment and booths of DA attached agencies showcasing their products is ongoing at the main building of World Trade Center.
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