Agri department presents accomplishments, plans for Philippine food sector

The Department of Agriculture will highlight the programs and projects of the agency that has contributed and continue to push for the attainment of its vision towards attaining sufficient domestic food supply for Filipino consumers, while securing the welfare of the local food producers.

DA Assistant Secretary for Operations U-Nichols Manalo, on June 18, will present – at the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas — the national initiative of the Agriculture agency that has allowed the food production sector to gain positively last year.

“The Philippine agriculture sector in 2023 has bounced back at 1.2 percent growth which is equivalent to its pre-pandemic level,” Asec. Manalo said.

He added that despite the challenges brought about by the pandemic, the sector has slowly recovered.

“The positive performance last year was mainly contributed by palay output hitting a record-high of 20.06 million metric tons—the highest-ever harvest of the country’s staple,” he said.

Manalo added that the sector has managed to grow this year, in spite of the El Niño, which has partially affected 13 regions of the country.

For this year, DA will strengthen action plans for various commodities including rice, corn, high value crops, fisheries, and livestock, among others. It will be banking on big impact investments for the development of infrastructure such as irrigation systems, farm-to-market roads, and cold storages; modern and mechanized rural communities; and improved logistics and strategies that will enhance the food value chain. It will also focus on expanding areas of production, and improving market access for local produce.

Aside for Asec. Manalo, other DA panelists include: Administrator Eduardo Guillen (National Irrigation Administration), Acting Administrator Larry Lacson (National Food Authority), Asec. Arnel de Mesa, (Special Concerns and Official Development Assistant), Asec. Daniel Alfonso Atayde (Logistics), Asst. Director Juana Tapel (Bureau of Agricultural and Fisheries Engineering), and Asst. Directors Herminigilda Gabertan and Ruel Gesmundo (Bureau of Plant Industry). ### (Adora D. Rodriguez, DA-AFID)