MANILA — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. committed on Thursday to develop Butuan City into the center of trade, industry and governance in Caraga.
In a speech, the President also promised to continue bolstering the region’s agriculture and fishery sectors.
“Katulad ninyo, nagsisikap ang pamahalaan upang lalo pang maging matatag ang Butuan bilang sentro ng kalakalan, industriya, at pamamahala dito sa Caraga,” President Marcos said during the distribution of Presidential Assistance to Farmers, Fisherfolk, and Families in Butuan City.
“[Naghandog] din [ang] ating pamahalaan ng karagdagang binhi at makinarya sa pagsasaka upang mapabuti ang inyong ani at mapagaan ang inyong hanapbuhay sa araw-araw. Patuloy din po [ang aming pagpapatupad ng] National Rice Program, ang National Corn Program, at saka ‘yung High-Value Crops Development Program sa iba’t ibang sulok ng bansa, kabilang na ang inyong rehiyon,” he said.
Marcos recalled that prior to assuming the presidency, he extended assistance to the people of Butuan City following the onslaught of Typhoon Odette in 2021.
Last year, the government inaugurated the Kadiwa ng Pangulo to help local farmers raise their income and provide fresh but affordable farm products to consumers.
Among the government’s major agricultural interventions in the Caraga Region from January 2023 to May 2024 are the allocation of P774.95 million under the National Rice Program, P220.50 million under the National Corn Program, and P68.93 million under the High-Value Crops Development Program.
The government also disbursed a total of P165.31 million for the Intensified Building-Up of Infrastructure and Logistics for Development (I-BUILD) Project and P16.52 million for the Investment in Rural Enterprises and Agriculture and Fisheries Productivity (I-REAP) Project under the Philippine Rural Development Program (PRDP).
A fishery infrastructure is also being built with the ongoing construction of the P60-million Bislig City Fish Port to ensure fresh fish supply to the city and Surigao del Sur. (PND)
