President Bongbong Marcos said that he is not keen on leaving the Agriculture Secretary post until all systems are in place.
Marcos was asked in an event in Valenzuela if he would be appointing a new agriculture chief after he named new Health and Defense secretaries. Marcos said he already asked for volunteers for the post but officials still want him to lead the agency.
“Marami, tinatanong ko sa kanila lahat, inaantay ko mag-volunteer sila mag-Secretary, ayaw ako paalisin eh. So, hangga’t matapos… the truth of the matter is that we have really managed to make some very important structural changes in the Department of Agriculture so iniisa-isa natin ‘yan,” Marcos said.
The chief executive said that the country is facing a food crisis and he wants to further address the food supply and production problems.
“The problem had been was during the beginning of this year, naging crisis lahat ng food supply, food prices, lahat, fertilizer prices, etc. Kaya napakalaking bagay nitong donation na binigay sa atin ng China. ‘Yun, we were just trying to put up emergency measures para naman mabigyan natin ng kaunting tulong at suporta ang ating magsasaka,” Marcos said.
“Ngayon, more or less the prices of agricultural commodities are beginning, they have not yet been stabilized, are beginning to stabilize. Now, we are going to make the structural changes that are important to increase production, to ensure the food supply of the Philippines, not only rice but also pork, also fisheries, also livestock, so ‘yan ang ating mga ginagawa ngayon para naman hindi na tayo umabot sa krisis, sa sitwasyon, kagaya ng nadatnan natin after the pandemic,” he added.
Marcos said that he will only leave the agency once there’s stable food supply and affordable prices.
“Ang aking hangarin para sa DA ay pag iniwan ko ang DA, by that time, we will have systems in place so that we can guarantee the food supply of the Philippines, number one, we can guarantee that the prices are affordable, and number three, that our farmers make a good living,” Marcos said.
“So, hangga’t matapos natin ‘yun, I suppose you will just have to put up with me as DA Secretary,” he added.
