Marcos leads aid distribution, vows to secure food supply

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos on Sunday said that the government will continue to ensure food supply in the country as he led the distribution of assistance to various sectors in Talisay City during his visit to Negros Occidental.

In his speech, Marcos said that his administration will do its best to help those in need, particularly those affected by the economic crisis.

“Pagka ako ay umiikot at pumupunta sa iba’t ibang lugar, tinitiyak ko na yung inaasahang tulong na inyong inaasahang tulong na galing sa gobyerno ay tuloy-tuloy ang parating sa taong bayan. Kaya kami nandito para tiyakin na maging maayos ang distribusyon, maging maayos, at lahat ng mga nangangailangan ay makakatanggap,” he said.

“Alam naman natin medyo mahirap ang buhay talaga ngayon, lahat ng bilihin ay tumataas, gasolina, lahat ng krudo, lahat ng ating mga pangangailangan ay tumataas ang presyo,” he added.

“Kaya kailangan na kailangan na kahit papaano, kahit hindi lahat ay maipapalit ng gobyerno, at least makakatulong kami… iyan ang aming tinitiyak dito sa ating mga pagbibigay ng tulong sa iba't ibang grupo,” Marcos said.

Moreover, the President said that more plans are being developed to address problems surrounding the agricultural production in the country.

“Yung ekonomiya ng Pilipinas maayos naman, ang problema lahat ng ating mga kasama, lahat ng ating ka-negosyo sabihin natin na iba’t ibang bansa ay nagkakaproblema, nadadala sa atin ‘yung problema din kaya’t kailangan natin mag adjust, kailangan nating gumawa ng ibang paraan,” Marcos said.

“Bukod pa dun ang ginagawa namin eh inaayos natin. Halimbawa dito ang problema ay sa industriya ng asukal, marami tayong kailangan ayusin na problema dahil napabayaan sa nakaraang ilang taon kayat dahan dahan maibabalik natin,” he added.

“Sa ngayon tinitiyak lang natin na sapat ang dumadating sa taong bayan hindi lamang asukal pati na ang lahat ng produktong agrikultura para naman kahit papaano ay masasabi natin na may sapat na food supply na kayang bayaran ng ating mamamayan,” he added. 

On Friday, Marcos met with the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) to tackle recommendations that aim to increase local food production and supply.

The Office of the President said in a statement that these include digital farming methods and strategies to improve the supply chain.

A review of the National Food Authority's policies and structure was also proposed during the meeting to enable the agency to operate as a logistics hub.

Marcos also tackled with the PSAC his plan for the institutionalization of the Department of Science and Technology's digital platform Sarai, which aims to provide stakeholders with site-specific crop advisories based on data obtained from the Diwata microsatellite.

He also directed the acceleration of replanting coconut trees and the distribution of seedlings as well as intercropping for better land use.

Moreover, he said he wants to fix the value chain in order to address short-term and long-term problems in the agriculture sector.

During the event, the Marcos handed over Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation amounting from P5,000 to P10,000 to 100 recipients from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

On the other hand, the Department of Agriculture (DA) handed over symbolic cheques  to six farmer organizations amounting to P88 million under its Philippine Rural Development Project.

Also, the DA distributes palay seeds to 100 farmers, one unit of corn mill and three units of incubator. —LBG, GMA News