“Please be around for the Food Security Summit.”

This was the request of Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar to the governors and representatives of Region XI during a dialogue held on September 15, 2019 in Tagum City, Davao del Norte.

The Summit, to be staged during the last week of October, will serve as a drawing board for the development of a framework that aims to improve the status of agriculture in the 80 provinces of the country.

Ultimately, the Summit will create a Provincial-Led Agriculture and Fishery Extension System and bring together all stakeholders, regional field offices, state universities and colleges, the business sector with a heart, and the provincial governments.

“Let us establish a one province-one system approach under an inclusive agribusiness approach. Dapat po negosyo ang turing natin sa agriculture,” Dar explained.

Dar stressed that the governors must attend with their provincial agriculturist and veterinarians.

The Secretary added that the Food Security Summit, which is part of his 100-day priority agenda, is the proper venue to discuss agricultural issues and come up  with sound decisions for the improvement of Philippine agriculture. ### (Adora Rodriguez, DA-AFID)