Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno. FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso has met farmers’ groups online and told them about the significance of a country that is not reliant on agricultural imports.
According to him, failure of a country to adequately produce its own food to feed its people would make it dependent on world prices, thus, food self-sufficiency is important.
Moreno’s online meeting with farmers on Monday was organized by former Agriculture Secretary Leonardo “Leony” Montemayor. It was attended by members of several farmers’ organizations that are part of the Federation of Free Farmers Cooperatives.
“If you don’t produce your own food, you will be dependent on the world prices. You don’t put your country in the hands of other organizations outside of your country,” he said during the meeting.
“You have to produce your corn, chicken, egg, meat, and vegetables. You really have to produce your own.”
“I’m a believer that food must be available and accessible and any country should produce at least enough to feed its people,” he added.
When asked about food importation, Moreno said: “I don’t mind importation if there is a need.”
“But if there is no big demand and the local produce is enough, what do you need to import?”
Moreno further told farmers that lands should not be converted to subdivisions if it would interfere with the production of food supply for the country.
“I’m all for development, but not if it defeats the purpose of these lands,” he said.