Marcos: Agriculture the 'soul' of PH economy

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Wednesday underscored the vital role of agriculture to the nation, saying that it is the "soul" of the Philippine economy. 

Marcos made the remark at the groundbreaking of the Korea Agricultural Machinery Industry Complex (KAMIC) and turnover of the Department of Agriculture's interventions to Central Luzon farmers. 

"I truly believe that agriculture is the soul of our economy," Marcos said in his speech.

"This is why we will continue to advance the agricultural sector with technology and the support that our farmers rightly deserve, suited to the demands of the modern world," he added.

Marcos said that with the help of KAMIC and the hard work of local farmers, he is confident that the nation's future will be more prosperous. 

"The farmers' future will be more prosperous. And our kababayans' future (our countrymen's future) will also be more prosperous. That is how important the work of our farmers is to the rest of the country," Marcos said. 

Further, Marcos acknowledged the hardships that come with farming, including the low profit and the lack of equipment that will make the job of Filipino farmers easier.

"Our farmers work tirelessly. They invest their money, time, and effort just to put food on the tables of their countrymen, yet,  for many, the income that they receive does not align with the effort that they put into their work," he said. 

"Machinery for farming makes farming more efficient and profitable. However, the equipment that will make their work easier still has to be bought from outside of the Philippines, from overseas. And even then, many of the tools are not designed for the specific needs of our farmers here in the Philippines," he added.

KAMIC is the first facility in the Philippines dedicated to the assembly and manufacturing of agricultural machinery, such as tractors, harvesters, cultivators and seeders, designed to meet local farming conditions.

It aims to improve the country's capacity to manufacture, fabricate, and assemble agricultural machinery and equipment; boost agricultural productivity and crop quality; increase farmers' incomes; and provide farm machinery suited to Philippine requirements.

The facility will be built on a 20-hectare property owned by the local government in Barangay Kalikid Sur, a location jointly approved by the Department of Agriculture and the City Government of Cabanatuan. 

The construction is scheduled to start in 2026. — VDV, GMA Integrated News