Duterte to pour P300M for agriculture in Maguindanao

President Rodrigo Duterte said the Department of Agriculture (DA) will allocate P300 million to prioritize agriculture in Maguindanao.

"(Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol) is willing to pour P300 million available, siya sa DA (Department of Agriculture) para dito sa inyo," Duterte said in his speech Friday, during an inspection of a biomass power plant project in Buluan town in Maguindanao.

The President noted that he wants to give priority to Maguindanao due to high hunger incidence in the province.

"Alam mo kasi ang priority ko itong Maguindanao, pati Sultan Kudarat (town), you know why? Sa statistics you have the highest incidence of hunger," he said.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, Maguindanao is among the 10 poorest provinces in the country with 54.5 percent poverty incidence per family.

Duterte said he would ask the secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development to go to Maguindanao and see the situation.

"Pakisilip nga..ang mga tao nakakaawa e. Maybe you would be short of everything but not food, mahirap 'yan gutom ang tao," he said.

"I am happy that Manny has decided to pour the P300 million for you here," the President said.

Duterte asked Piñol, who is also present in the event, when will the P300 million be available.

Piñol said, "Right away sir." —John Ted Cordero/ALG, GMA News