The Philippine agriculture will finally be prioritized and supported with the forthcoming assumption of President-elect Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. as agriculture secretary.

This was the message of Secretary William D. Dar during the awarding ceremonies of various agri-fishery interventions at the DA-Regional Field Office of the Cordillera Administrative Region on June 28, 2022. 

“The President’s decision to lead the DA is a clear indication of his utmost concern for the development of the county’s agriculture and fishery sectors,” the Secretary said.

The agri chief is optimistic that sufficient budget will now be allotted to DA to enable it to pursue programs and projects not only for the benefit of food producers, but of consumers as well.

Aside from expressing gratitude to the new president’s political will to oversee the development of Philippine agriculture, the Secretary likewise thanked outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte for trusting him and supporting the initiatives of the OneDA family. 

While in Benguet, Sec. Dar led the ceremonial distribution of various agri interventions to individual farmers and farmers’ cooperatives and associations (FCAs). 

“As part of our continuous efforts to aid the farmers of the Cordilleras, DA through the CAR regional office, has allotted a total of P628.8 million (M) in interventions under the Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RFFA), Fuel Discount Program for Corn Farmers and Fisherfolk, and the Integrated National Swine Production Initiatives for Recovery and Expansion (INSPIRE) Program, KADIWA ni Ani at Kita, and High Value Crops Development Program,” he said. 

The assistance include the P450M cash grant under Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RFFA), P5.4M Fuel Discount Program for Corn Farmers and Fisherfolk, and the P167M INSPIRE Program. 

Two hauling trucks valued at P2.9M and P2.29M were awarded to the I-Kapangan Farmers’ Entrepreneurs Organization and the local government of Buguias, Benguet, respectively. ### (Adora D. Rodriguez, DA-AFID)