Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. (3rd from right) recently visited Koronadal City to meet with officers and members of Soccsksargen irrigators’ associations as a speaker during the latter’s congress, where he also distributed financial assistance to the various associations. (Photo: PIA Region 12)
KORONADAL CITY (PIA) — Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. expressed his full support to farmers-irrigators’ associations operating in Soccsksargen, confident in their capabilities to boost agricultural production to help achieve food security in the country.
He said improving food production will help ensure a brighter future for Filipino farmers and their families, reiterating that advancing food security is the number one priority of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
“Isa sa mga tinututukan ngayon ng administrasyong Marcos ang pagpapalaki ng produksyon, kaya’t siniguro nito sa mga magsasaka na tutulong ang kagawaran na mabigyan ng suporta at mapalawak ang merkado ng kanilang mga produkto [One of the focused priorities of the Marcos administration is increasing production, so this assures farmers that DA will help provide support and help expand the market for their products],” Laurel told participants of the recent Regional Irrigators’ Associations (IA) Congress led by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA-12) in Koronadal City.
The secretary promised the DA would make sure farmers in Soccsksargen would be able to expand their market where they could bring their farm produce to help improve their income.
He also noted that during the event he was able to have meaningful interactions with many of the officers and members of the irrigators’ associations in the area.
“Ang pagpapa-angat ng antas ng pamumuhay ng ating mga Pilipinong magsasaka ay ang ating pangunahing hangad. Tayo pong lahat ay pinagbuklod para kapit-bisig tayong magtulungan para sa sektor ng agrikultura ng ating bansa [Raising the standard of living of our Filipino farmers is our main goal. We are all bound together to work hand in hand to uplift the agriculture sector of our country],” he added.
Over 340 national and communal irrigation systems’ presidents and IA leaders from South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat provinces, and General Santos City, as well as irrigators from Maguindanao del Sur and del Norte in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, participated in the event.
Laurel urged IA presidents and officers to intensify the agricultural “good practices” of the associations and to remain rooted in their vision to increase food production and to continuously show their support to the government.
Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. of the Department of Agriculture visited the Kadiwa ng Pangulo while in Koronadal City and was amazed by the market potential of various agricultural products showcased at the Kadiwa ng Pangulo stalls located at the NIA compound in the city. (Photo: PIA Region 12)
During his first visit to Soccsksargen, Laurel also conducted a site visit to personally observe the Kadiwa ng Pangulo with NIA Administrator Eduardo Eddie Guillen and other DA and NIA national and regional officials, among others.
The secretary said that he was amazed by the variety of agricultural products from Soccsksargen that were displayed at the Kadiwa ng Pangulo stalls at the NIA compound in Koronadal City.
He said that he saw great “potential” in Soccsksargen products not only to help sustain food stability in the country but also viability in the global market, promising the farmers to provide the necessary help they need, such as finding them a market link for their products.
Laurel also commended NIA for being one of its strong partners in the efforts to bolster palay production, including other agricultural products, and reduce the price of rice by putting up irrigation projects in different parts of the country and managing them efficiently.
Meanwhile, Guillen explained that the NIA’s mandate has always been the development and maintenance of functional irrigation infrastructure by constructing and upgrading irrigation systems in the country.
He said “the agency has enabled farmers to cultivate their lands efficiently, reducing dependency on rainfall.”
Secretary Laurel and Guillen also led the distribution of P18 million worth of operations and maintenance subsidies to various irrigators’ associations to support the fulfillment of their role to provide irrigation systems to farmers.
Highlighting the vital role of an efficient irrigation system in boosting the agriculture sector, Guillen assured that the NIA remains resilient despite the various challenges, such as the occurrence of the El Nino phenomenon, which affects the whole value chain of rice production.
Both officials also met with the local chief executives of Sarangani and General Santos City to discuss various programs and issues confronting the farming and fishing industries in the region and the possible interventions to strengthen them to make sure that the government’s food security goal will continue without a hitch. (AMB edited by CA, PIA Region 12)
