Presidential aspirant Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso said his government will implement what he called a “Food Production Strategic Plan”—a blueprint for agricultural development and securing the country’s food security during his administration.
“Because food security is extremely important and we are not producing enough food for the most basic needs of our people. We must, starting 2022, have a Food Production Strategic Plan which will be the guide for the budget of all departments and other agencies directly involved in food production,” Moreno said in a town hall meeting in San Pablo City, Laguna attended by coconut farmers and their families.
Moreno was referring to the Department of Agriculture, his proposed Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, the Department of Agrarian Reform and other agencies related to food production and distribution.
“Because at present now, yearly support for agriculture changes. You need a food production plan. There must be a direction for government spending. And this is the full five-year medium term spending to support food production,” he said.
The Aksyon Demokratiko presidential bet said the 5-year plan must involve the different major stakeholders in food production so that their problems and solutions are properly taken into consideration in crafting the food production strategy.
“Periodic interventions are no longer possible, as what happened in the hog industry. The entry of African swine fever was not prevented; the hog raisers collapsed, especially the backyard hog raisers. As a result, the price of pork has skyrocketed. Then importation was made the quickest solution to address the shortage,” Moreno said.
“In short, there must be a directional strategy, supported by farmers, food processors, all relevant sectors, and here the government’s budget is based as assistance to farmers, fishermen, toward the food security of our country,” he added.
The 47-year-old local chief executive’s proposals were among those he put forward during Friday’s discussion with the agricultural sector led by Former Agriculture Secretary Leonardo Montemayor and former Undersecretary Ernesto Ordonez of the Department of Trade and Industry.
Part of Moreno’s food production program is the imposition of a three-year moratorium on the conversion of agricultural lands into other uses and the passage of the National Land Use Act (NLUA) that will ensure food security for the country.
“I’m all for development, but not if it sacrifices our goals to food sufficiency. We must ensure that agricultural lands should stay as agricultural lands,” said Moreno.