Marcos Holds Closed-Door Meeting As DA Chief

Discussing outlooks and action plans of the sector in the first month of his administration, President Marcos led a closed-door executive meeting on Monday, July 4, in his concurrent capacity as agriculture secretary.

The President arrived at the Department of Agriculture (DA)-Bureau of Soils and Water Management office at past 9 a.m. and was warmly welcomed by employees of the agency.

Among the important topics discussed during the meeting were updates on the national food outlook and production, the agency’s banner programs and the proposed action plans within the first 30 days of the new administration, according to the update from the Presidential Broadcast Staff-Radio Television Malacañang.

During the meeting, Marcos ordered the DA to increase the production of food staples like rice and corn, and raise the supply of pork and chicken to address a food crisis that he said may hit the Philippines in the next two quarters.

“We have to think hard about making sure that people have the same sufficient food... at a price that they can afford. Because again, it is useless to have food if you cannot afford it anyway,” the President said.

Marcos also stressed the need to put in place the Masagana 150 and Masagana 200 programs, which he described as “good plans” that have to be operationalized.

Masagana 150 seeks to yield 7.5 tons of inbred rice per hectare at P8.38 production cost per kilogram, while Masagana 200 aims for a yield of 10 tons of hybrid rice per hectare and a production cost of P7.82 per kilogram. Both programs set the market price at P27.50 per kilogram.

For the long-term, the President wants to establish a multi-year plan to reconstruct the value chain. He instructed agriculture officials to prepare draft executive orders and laws needed to achieve their objectives and ordered the agriculture department to reassess the Rice Tariffication Law and examine the merits of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, a free trade agreement among ASEAN nations.

DA officials present during the meeting included Undersecretaries Leocadio Sebastian, Rodolfo Vicerra and Zamzamin Ampatuan; Assistant Secretary-designates Agnes Miranda and Arnel de Mesa and Assistant Secretaries Jane Bacayo and Kristine Evangelista.

Also in attendance was National Food Authority administrator Judy Carol Dansal, who is currently embroiled in a conflict with NFA employees for alleged graft and corrupt practices and for refusal to vacate her post at the end of the Duterte administration.

Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez, Presidential Management Staff Secretary Maria Zenaida Angping were also present at the inaugural executive meeting.

High-ranking DA officials declined to comment on the specifics discussed during the meeting, which lasted for more than an hour, as no official officer-in-charge (OIC) or point person was appointed.

Subsidy sought for farmers

Hampered by rising costs of farm inputs, farmers’ group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) called on Marcos on Monday to lower the prevailing fertilizer prices and certify as urgent the bill pushing for a P15,000 production subsidy for those in the agriculture sector.

“Sectors are demanding production subsidies to farmers, fisherfolk, agricultural workers and other rural-based sectors, to provide food on their tables and for food production to continue,” KMP chairman emeritus Rafael Mariano said in a statement.

Currently filed at the 19th Congress is House Bill No. 406 or An Act Providing for a P15,000 Production Subsidy for farmers and fisherfolk affected by increasing cost of farm inputs, rising fuel prices, economic downturn and calamities amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Due to significant losses in their income, farmers themselves are unable to buy their food. Income from farming and selling their produce cannot keep up with the increasing cost of living and the cost of farming and fishing. Immediate government measures to cushion the impacts of inflation on our local food producers are imperative,” he added.

SRA designates OIC

Meanwhile, officials of the Sugar Regulatory Administration – deputy administrators Guillermo Tejida, Ignacio Santillana and Brando Noroña – have designated Santillana as OIC of the SRA.

This is to ensure “the exigency of the service, its unhampered delivery to the public and to give effect to the intent of (the President’s) Memorandum Circular No. 1 Series of 2022,” their letter said.

A separate memorandum was issued to all SRA employees regarding Santillana’s designation. – With Ralph Edwin Villanueva