IATF: P31B set aside for 'Plant, plant, plant' amid COVID-19 threat

The Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) has announced the allocation of P31 billion for the Department of Agriculture's Plant, Plant, Plant Program amid the COVID-19 crisis.

According to the IATF, the budget will be used to "implement, expand, and increase the food adequacy in the country."

"DA’s Ahon Lahat, Pagkaing Sapat Contra sa COVID-19 or Plant, Plant, Plant Program popularly called as 4Ps in Agriculture shall be provided the necessary budgetary allocations amounting to P31 Billion in order to implement, expand, and increase food adequacy in the country," the bulletin read.

The IATF has also approved the importation of an additional 300,000 metric tons of rice through government-to-government arrangements with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) trading partners, or others, should it be necessary.

The DA, the Department of Finance, and the Department of Trade and Industry were directed to encourage ASEAN trading partners to refrain from imposing trade-restrictive measures amid the coronavirus disease 2019.

It has also directed local government units (LGUs) to:

•     allow the resumption of farming and fishing activities
•     the free movement of supplies used for agriculture
•     reactivate the Local Price Coordination Council

The IATF also directed LGUs and market masters to strictly implement the price freeze and the suggested retail prices of products. -NB, GMA News