Duterte Cabinet to discuss ways to improve farmers’ plight

MANILA, Philippines — The welfare of Filipino farmers was among the key national issues President Rodrigo Duterte and his Cabinet will discuss on Wednesday in their monthly meeting in Malacañang.

In a text message to reporters, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said that the Cabinet will also discuss the National ID system and the immunization program of Department of Health.

“Among other topics, the focus of our meeting will be how to streamline the procedures in DAR (Department of Agrarian Reform), how to alleviate the lives of farmers and fisherfolk, how to provide small farmers and fisherfolk better access to credit and loan facilities,” Nograles said.

The Palace official added that the Cabinet will also discuss how to improve the country’s agricultural productivity “while making the programs more inclusive, allowing small farmers and fisherfolk to play a bigger part in nation-building.”

Since Duterte assumed the presidency, he has pushed for measures to improve the condition of farmers, including providing free irrigation to those with landholdings of eight hectares or less.

He has also ordered the Land Bank of the Philippines to ease its requirements and make the state-run financial institution accessible to farmers. /ee

READ: Duterte to LBP: Ease bank requirements for small farmers

READ: Duterte signs law granting free irrigation