A vegetable farmer in Benguet (File photon by EV ESPIRITU / Inquirer Northern Luzon)
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Friday said that he wants the country’s agriculture sector elevated to a world-class level, as competition in rice production is unavoidable.
“We are a global economy and we have to compete in the global economy and that is why our agriculture has to be brought to a level where we can say it is world-class and can compete with all the agricultural producers around the world, especially in our region,” said Marcos Jr. in an ambush interview.
The President, who also serves as agriculture secretary, was pressed for updates on the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) review. Farmers had expressed worry over foreign competition caused by the said law.
Marcos said the Philippines needs to import rice due to its high production cost locally.
“Ang ginagawa natin pagka nagkukulang ay nag-i-import tayo. Kaya’t we always have to compete. Hindi natin maiiwasan mag-compete,” he said.
(If we have a supply shortage, what we do is import. That is why we always have to compete. We cannot avoid competing.)
The President had previously ordered for a review of the RTL, as it removed volume restrictions on rice imports.
Marcos also pointed to the recently launched Philippine Export Development Plan, bolsters the country’s production and export capacities.
“We just approved and rolled out the export, the plan for the export industries in the Philippines yesterday and that is something that we really have to be able to take advantage of,” said Marcos Jr.