Heroes Hall, Malacañan Palace
July 10, 2024

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. convened with the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF), together with National Sectoral Committees (NSCs) of PCAF and Regional Agricultural and Fishery Council (RAFC) Chairpersons, in a dialogue to discuss the sectors’ most pressing issues and concerns, as well as ways forward at the Heroes Hall in Malacañan Palace.

NSC Representative Atty. Elias Inciong and RAFC Representative Engr. Francisco Hernandez III gave their respective presentations.

The NSC raised several issues and areas of concern such as the impending water scarcity with the looming El Niño season, prevalence of agricultural smuggling, inadequate real-time data for policy and decision-making, trade policy on Rice Tarrification Law and implementation of trade remedies, among others.

Meanwhile, the RAFC focused its presentation on highlighting various issues such as the high cost of fertilizers and pesticides, low purchase of local rice grains distributed by the National Food Authority (NFA), lack of funding for other programs such as fuel subsidy and adequate storage facilities, projected shortage on pork supply, and accessibility of Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) to farmers in island municipalities, among others.

President Marcos Jr. assured the various committees that the recommendations presented are aligned with the government’s action plan to address these.

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