
Marcos to NIA: Listen to farmers' needs
''Kaya po ang hiling ko sa lahat ng kawani ng NIA, ingatan, alagaan, at gamitin ninyo ang mga sasakyan at pasilidad nang wasto,'' Marcos said in his speech Monday.
(My request to NIA employees is to take care and use properly the vehicles and facilities.)
''Saksi ako sa inyong sipag [sa] paglilingkod sa ating mga magsasaka. Ngunit, hiling ko sa inyo na paigtingin pa ang inyong pagsisilbi. Makinig sa kanilang mga hinaing,'' he added.
(I'm a witness in your hard work when it comes to serving our farmers. I'm requesting that you strengthen your service. Listen to their needs.)
Marcos told NIA to immediately address the needs of local farmers.
The President led the ceremonial turnover of 229 newly procured operations and maintenance equipment and vehicles under the third tranche of the NIA's Re-fleeting Program at Barangay Wawa in Taguig City.
This program supports the President's directive to fast-track irrigation project development as part of broader efforts to strengthen the agriculture sector.
As the country faces the effects of climate change and extreme weather conditions, including the El Niño phenomenon, the enhanced fleet enables NIA to respond more effectively to the growing demands of irrigation service delivery.
The said agency currently manages 257 National Irrigation Systems and 8,802 Communal Irrigation Systems. The NIA is responsible for the repair, operation and maintenance of major canals and irrigation infrastructure. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
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GMA Network
a day ago
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Salceda optimistic about PH entering into FTA with US
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GMA Network
2 days ago
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Concessions in trade deal with US won't result in 'significant damage to local industries'
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GMA Network
2 days ago
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P20/kilo rice, farm to market roads remain work in progress
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"It also aims to uplift rural incomes and improve food logistics, particularly in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas,' Balisacan added. The Agriculture Department also reported that it had completed over 450 agri-infrastructure projects, including farm-to-market roads, fish ports, and food storage facilities. Further, agriculture insurance now protects more than 1.3 million farmers, livestock raisers, and fishers. 'Through the Masagana Rice Industry Development Program, aligned yields have improved from 3.3 to 4.2 metric pounds per hectare, with the first quarter yields again at 4.09 metric pounds. We are also expanding value-chain innovation,' said DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel in a speech, as delivered by Agriculture Director Karen Roscom in a summit in Manila. Benefits A number of farmers expressed relief with the administration's efforts, saying that farm-to-market roads are a long-awaited solution. 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P20 per kilo of rice Marcos' campaign promise of P20 per kilo of rice has been initially implemented in the Visayas region, and is set to be rolled out across the country in the coming months. The second phase of the program commenced this July in the Mindanao region. Marcos said it took time for him to fulfill his promise because the government needs to assist the local farmers first, including the provision of machinery. The P20 per kilo rice initiative under the Kadiwa ng Pangulo program only allows members of vulnerable sectors—including indigents, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and solo parents to buy NFA rice at P20 per kilogram. Moreover, it can also be availed by minimum wage earners. Marcos expressed confidence that his administration could sustain its implementation. Increasing prices of goods With the price of some goods increasing, Marcos said the government is also monitoring "price gouging" in the consumer market. "Iyon lamang binabantayan natin ngayon 'yung price gouging. Dahil ang dami ko nang nakita nagtataas ng presyo, hindi naman tumaas ang presyo ng langis. So, iyon ang babantayan natin ngayon. That's what we are going to watch," he said. (We're monitoring the price gouging. Because I've seen a lot of price hikes even though fuel prices have not increased. So that's what we will monitor right now. That's what we are going to watch.) Farmers However, the progressive group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) said that farmers and fisherfolk remain waiting for the fulfilment of the President's SONA promises. KMP chairperson Danilo Ramos lamented that majority of the Filipino farmers do not own the land they till, and continue to lose it due to land conversion. He also said the people in other areas of the country await the affordable rice promised by Marcos. Ramos said they also continue to long for the day when the country would be rice self-sufficient and would no longer need to buy imported rice.—LDF/RSJ, GMA Integrated News