President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos leads the distribution of confiscated smuggled rice to residents of Dinagat Islands on September 29, 2023. (Photo from Presidential Communications Office)
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. believes running out of confiscated smuggled rice will be a “great situation.”
He said it signifies there are no more hoarders and smugglers.
Marcos made the statement during an ambush interview in Surigao del Norte.
He distributed smuggled rice to Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries in Siargao Island and Dinagat Islands.
“It will be a great situation if we run out of smuggled rice because, ibig sabihin, wala nang masyado smuggling. Wala nang masyadong hoarding,” said the Chief Executive.
(It will be a great situation if we run out of smuggled rice because it means there is not as much smuggling, not as much hoarding.)
“Makokontrol ang presyo so that is the best way to maintain it. That is the long term. That is the long-term aspiration of all of this,” he noted.
(The prices will be under control, so that is the best way to maintain it. That is the long term. That is the long term aspiration of all of this.)
While in Siargao Island, Marcos distributed 2,265 sacks of rice to 4Ps beneficiaries.
“Sa isang panig, ang ginagawa natin, pinapaganda natin ang produksyon ng bigas,” he said.
(On the one hand, what we are doing is improving the production of rice.)
“Hindi lamang bigas, kundi pati mais. Pati ‘yung mga gulay. Pati high-value crop,” he enumerated.
(Not just rice but corn. Also vegetables. Also, high-value crops.)
“Lahat ‘yan, para naman maging mas matibay ang tinatawag, ang ating mga pag-supply ng pagkain sa ating mga kababayan,” he said.
(All of that to strengthen our… what we call… our food supply to our countrymen.)
While in the Dinagat Islands, over 1,000 4Ps beneficiaries received a sack of rice each.
Marcos told the residents that they would have a steady food supply.
He also said the government will tend to their farming needs.
“Patuloy din po tayong nagpapatayo ng mga imbakan at imprastraktura sa transportasyon, upang magkaroon ng mas mabilis at sistematikong daloy [ng] mga suplay at serbisyo sa lahat ng sulok ng bansa, kasama na ang Dinagat Islands,” said the President.
(We will continue to establish storage and infrastructure in transportation so that there can be a faster and more systematic flow of supply and services in all corners of the country, including the Dinagat Islands.)
The rice was distributed as part of the P42 million worth of haul previously confiscated by the Bureau of Customs in Zamboanga.
APL/abc
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