MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. highlighted the Philippines’ record-high local palay production despite El Niño and global challenges.
In his third State of the Nation Address (SONA), he announced that the country harvested over 20 million tons of palay last year, the highest yield since 1987. However, this still falls short of the 16 million metric tons of rice required, necessitating imports.
Marcos pledged to boost local production and improve the agriculture sector’s value chain to address rising rice prices. “We will prioritize local production by supporting the agriculture sector to increase efficiency and output,” he said.
Kadiwa Centers
The President committed to continuing the operation of Kadiwa centers nationwide to provide cheaper rice and essential goods.
These centers serve vulnerable groups, including members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), senior citizens, solo parents, and persons with disabilities (PWDs), offering rice at PHP29 per kilogram.
Marcos also reiterated efforts to combat price manipulation and agricultural smuggling, noting the seizure of PHP2.7 billion worth of smuggled goods. Temporary measures, such as mandated rice price ceilings and extended reduced tariff rates on rice, corn, and pork imports, aim to mitigate these issues.
Support for Farmers and Fishermen
Marcos reported the distribution of over 100 million kilograms of seedlings and fertilizers, 300,000 layers to the poultry sector, and substantial technical and financial assistance for modernizing farming practices. The administration targets completing 1,200 kilometers of farm-to-market roads.
For the fishing sector, the government has distributed over 500,000 fingerlings, 3,000 fishing vessels, and enhanced fish ports and cold storage facilities. Additionally, they are rolling out vaccines against African swine fever (ASF) to aid the poultry sector’s recovery.
(el Amigo/mnm)
