Pandemic taught us not to rely on importation, says Marcos

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Friday that the COVID-19 pandemic taught the Philippines that it should not rely on importation.

Marcos, the concurrent Agriculture Secretary, made this remark as he was distributing various government assistance to the local government of Tangalan, Aklan.

“Natuto na tayo sa pandemya na nangyari na hindi tayo makapag-import. Hindi tayo makapag-import ng pagkain dahil walang tumatakbo na barko,” Marcos said in his speech.

(We learned during the pandemic when we could not import. We could not import because there were no available ships.)

Marcos reiterated that the government is actively trying to improve local agricultural production, which includes crop production, fishing, and livestock breeding.

“Tayo, nasanay masyado tayo sa importation. Naipit ngayon tayo sa food supply kaya’t napilitan tayong bumili ng imported na napakamahal. Kaya’t ‘yan ang babaguhin po natin. Babaguhin po natin ‘yan. Ang gagawin po natin ay papatibayin natin ang ating agricultural sector,” said the President.

(We got too used to importation. Now, the food supply is in a tight spot, which is why we were forced to import expensive food. That is why we will change that. We will change that. What we will do is strengthen the agriculture sector.)

To recall, Marcos had approved a series of sugar, fish, and rice imports since the beginning of the year.

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