Ceremonial Palay Harvesting and Distribution of Various Assistance Candaba, Pampanga.
Ceremonial Palay Harvesting and Distribution of Various Assistance Candaba, Pampanga.
Citing his optimism for a more bountiful harvest of rice and overall progress in the agriculture sector this year, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led the ceremonial palay harvesting and distribution of various assistance to farmers and farmers cooperative and associations (FCAs) when he visited Candaba, Pampanga.
“Dahil sa ating sama-samang pagsisikap, nagtamo tayo ng tala ng ani noong 2023 na umabot sa mahigit 20 milyong metric ton ng palay. Ito ay nagpapakita ng one point five % (1.5%) na pagtaas mula sa nakaraang taon o dagdag na mahigit 300,000 tonelada ng palay,” the President announced in his keynote message.
Despite attaining the highest ever harvest of the country’s national staple, he issued a warning to the nation’s farmers on the challenges posed by El Niño, citing that this threat is expected to affect the agriculture sector until June or even the remaining months of this year.
“Gayunpaman, hindi tayo natatakot; sa halip, buong loob at lakas at sama-sama nating haharapin ang El Niño,” President Marcos Jr. said as he enumerated several government actions and projects to aid farmers who will be affected by the climate phenomenon. These include undertaking climate risk assessments, strengthening farming infrastructure, issuance of early warnings to farmers and fisherfolks, expanding irrigation projects, as well as promoting production support, extension services, research and development, and irrigation network services.
“Patuloy rin nating gagamitin ang pondo mula sa Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund upang palakasin ang hanay ng ating mga manggagawa at magsasaka. Malaking bahagi ng pondong ito ay gagamitin sa pamamahagi ng makinarya tulad ng tillers, tractors, seeders, threshers, rice planters, reapers, driers at marami pang iba,” he added.
The Chief Executive recognized the hard work, sacrifice and dedication of the farmers, noting that they serve as an inspiration to all Filipinos.
“Ang inyong mga kamay — na masigasig na nagbubungkal ng lupang inyong sinasaka ang siyang nagbibigay ng buhay at sigla sa ating sambayanan…Kaya’t asahan ninyo na sasamahan kayo ng ating pamahalaan sa inyong mga pagsisikap, nang makamit ninyo ang lahat ng inyong mga mithiin at mga pangarap. Ang ating pagtutulungan na mapa-unlad ang ating sektor ng agrikultura ay isa lamang sa mga pangunahing hakbang tungo sa pagbuo ng isang Bagong Pilipinas — kung saan walang nagugutom at ang lahat ay masigabong kumikilos para sa mas masaganang kinabukasan,” President Marcos Jr. ended in his message.