Food production, budget tackled in Bongbong Marcos’ meeting with agri execs

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos presides over a meeting with Agriculture officials. Image from Alan Jay Jacalan / Department of Agriculture

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. met with officials of the Department of Agriculture (DA) on Monday to tackle increasing food production in the country and the agriculture sector’s budget next week.

Marcos serves as concurrent secretary of DA.

DA Undersecretary Kristine Evangelista said increasing the yield of rice and high-value crops while balancing it with the demand requirements of consumers was tackled during the meeting held at the DA’s Bureau of Soils and Water Management auditorium.

“Hindi tayo nag-concentrate sa isang commodity because if we’re talking about food security, that does not involve only rice,” Evangelista told reporters.

(We did not concentrate on one commodity only because if we’re talking about food security, that does not involve only rice.)

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., also serving as concurrent chief of the Department of Agriculture, met with agri officials on Monday morning. Topics discussed include 2023 budget and increasing food production, accdng to DA Usec Kristine Evangelista. @inquirerdotnet 📸: DA-BSWM pic.twitter.com/Mqgd6wgnbo

— Neil Arwin Mercado (@NAMercadoINQ) July 18, 2022

“It will involve even ‘yung ating sa livestock po, ‘yung ating manok, ‘yung baboy, itlog, and also ‘yung ating mga gulay so marami po tayong tutukan,” she added.

(It will also involve our livestock such as chicken, pork, eggs, and vegetables, so there are many things to focus on.)

Also present during the meeting were former DA secretaries Domingo Panganiban and Leo Sebastian. Image from Alan Jay Jacalan / Department of Agriculture

Also present were former Agriculture Secretaries Domingo Panganiban and Leo Sebastian, as well as officials from the Department of Budget and Management since the budget for the agriculture sector, was also discussed, said Evangelista.

“DBM was there because there are budget considerations that we have to look into, so yun po ang direksyon (that’s the direction). That’s for further discussion,” Evangelista said.

However, the agricultural official did not discuss the rising prices of sugar during the meeting.

Marcos earlier announced that he would temporarily head the agriculture department.

Marcos said that the move to head the agriculture department will “make it clear to everyone what a high priority we put on the agriculture sector.”

RELATED STORIES:

Marcos takes agri post, vows to reorganize DA

The wait-and-see period for Bongbong Marcos’ ‘P20 rice’ promise

EDV/abc