Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III said Tuesday that he will support the majority in pushing for measures or budget will strengthen the country’s food production.
The Department of Agriculture (DA), currently headed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, is proposing to spend PHP163.8 billion next year, which also covers the PHP30 billion proposal of the National Irrigation Administration.
Pimentel said measures that aim to boost food production need all-out support from legislators.
“The focus of the government, the administration must be on food production and Congress must be there to give all the help necessary. Basta food production, magkaka-isa talaga tayo diyan (If it is about food production, we will really unite on that),” he said.
Pimentel said the proposed increase in the 2023 budget of the DA is expected because Marcos’ focus is on agriculture.
“If it’s spent on productivity of the land to produce food, agree tayo diyan (we agree to it),” he told Senate reporters.
Pimentel said he also wants to know the ideas of DA officials on how to improve the agriculture industry and avoid importation.
“’Yun ang gusto nating baguhin eh (That is what we want to change). We are making sure, itong (this) Senate at least, na ‘yung luma man o ‘yung bagong team diyan [sa DA] (that the old or new team there) change the mindset that importation is the solution to shortages,” he said.
Source: Philippines News Agency
