Isko Moreno focuses on agriculture

FILE PHOTO: Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso. INQUIRER FILES

PULILAN, BULACAN — Aksyon Demokratiko standard-bearer and Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso on Thursday vowed to provide full support and protection for Filipino farmers and other food producers if he’s elected president.

The 47-year-old presidential aspirant pointed out that the Philippines is endowed with fertile lands which, if utilized properly, can sustain food security for the country. The problem, however, is that farmers are quitting due to the lack of support and protection from the national government.

“It’s more on food security. Bulacan piggeries and poultry, as well as farms—the national government needs to continue highlighting these,” Domagoso said in a mix of Filipino and English as Team Isko embarked on a motorcade in this Central Luzon province.

Raise farmers’ income

He said government protection would extend to all farmers and food producers, pointing to the plight of Nueva Ecija onion farmers who were forced to throw away their harvest due to low farm-gate prices.

Domagoso said he aims to raise the income of farmers to the level of average Filipino workers by providing them with risk-free capital; building more irrigation systems while improving the efficiency of existing ones; and establishing postharvest facilities and cold storage facilities across the country and in major production areas.

Furthermore, he vowed to bring down agricultural production costs by cutting the excise tax of petroleum products by 50 percent to bring down the cost of diesel and fertilizer.

He said he would also issue clear guidelines on the strict importation of agricultural products to make sure local producers could sell their products first before importing, and clamp down on smuggling of agriculture products to protect the interests of local producers.

Agriculture is one of the main pillars of Domagoso’s 10-point Bilis Kilos Economic Agenda, wherein his focus will be on life and livelihood—which is, first, “job opportunity; second is food security.” —CONTRIBUTED

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