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Friday, March 29, 2024

Isko to protect ‘food basket’ farmers in Luzon areas

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Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso has vowed that if elected president, his administration will provide full support and protection to Filipino farmers from the country’s so-called “food basket” to uplift their lives and ensure that there is food on the table of every Filipino family.

Moreno made the assurance in a media interview at the provincial capitol building in San Fernando, La Union following a courtesy call with Governor Francisco Emmanuel Ortega III as Team Isko embarked on a motorcade around the Ilocos Region province.

“One of the sad things that is happening in Northern Luzon and Central Luzon is that your vegetable crops are gradually disappearing. Look at the garlic, it’s different, and a lot of it is missing due to the importation of Taiwanese garlic and garlic to China.”

“In Central Luzon, our onion farmers are crying now, because the imported onions are flooding the market, because we allowed them,” the Aksyon Demokratiko presidential candidate lamented.

“Now, the price of rice is not rising yet, but it will increase, but the price of palay is not rising. So, these areas, Northern Luzon and Central Luzon, which is the food basket of our country, is greatly affected by negligence on the part of government agencies by not protecting their crops, particularly during the harvest season,” Moreno said.

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The 47-year-old presidential aspirant said that given the chance, among the first policies he would institute to protect farmers is to issue clear guidelines on the strict importation of agricultural products to make sure that local producers can sell their products first before importation is made; and clamp down on smuggling of agriculture products to protect the interests of local producers.

“In our case, someday, as long as those are smugglers, those importers, I will neutralize them as a matter of protection to our farmers. Importation should be buffer, not the main reason for us to feed our people,” Moreno stressed.

He also vowed that government will see to it that the cost of agricultural production will be brought down to ensure farmers of their income.

“Second, I will see to it, and I will make sure, in my own little way, all the powers as a president of our country, to be able to monitor, the price of fertilizer properly. So you’ll notice now, a lot of farmers can’t plant. The buying of rice is cheap, but the price of fertilizer is so high. So it turns out our farmers would have to shell out more money,” Moreno said.

To further ensure farmers of their income, a Moreno administration will also buy the surplus produce of farmers at the right price.

“So, these are the things, in my own little way, give me a chance, people. We will arrest and address this bad situation of neglect,” he declared.

Agriculture is one of the main pillars of Moreno’s 10-point Bilis Kilos Economic Agenda, which will be his administration’s guiding principles to accelerate human and economic growth if elected president.

Moreno aims to raise the income of farmers to the level of average Filipino workers by also providing them with risk-free capitals; building more irrigation systems while improving the efficiency of existing ones; and establishing the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, among others.

Likewise, government will lead the effort for farmers to adopt new technologies to increase their productivity and establish post-harvest facilities and cold storage facilities across the country and in major production areas.

It will also invest in strengthening agriculture schools and institutions, including its teachers and professors, and ensure that the product of these institutions will directly benefit Filipino farmers.

In the meantime, Moreno took the opportunity to thank Governor Ortega, as well as the mayors, for welcoming Team Isko and giving them the opportunity to campaign in the province.

Despite Region I as a known bailiwick of his rival, former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., he said he will strive hard to visit as many towns of the province as much as possible, and other provinces of the region in due time, to give Ilocanos an “alternative candidate.”

“As they say, even the “bulalo”, no matter how hard it is, as long as you keep it light, it will also soften. That’s what I learned in life with a lot of hardship I went through, that you need to persevere in life.”

“If you want to achieve something, work hard. We will try to be in places like Northern Luzon and Southern Luzon, where they also have presidential candidates in those areas. And we will also be in Mindanao after this,” he said.

“Besides, I am happy to get a few votes in this area. Every vote matters. Hopefully for the Ilocanos in Northern Luzon, please ask for your little vote. At least a little, also a supplement,” Moreno said.

And he hopes that his perseverance to reach out to every Filipino to preach his clear platforms and programs that are based on real achievements will, by God’s grace, gradually win the support of the people as the campaign goes on.

“I hope they can heart me, as I am asking our countrymen here. So I really try. It’s been 10 days, we haven’t stopped yet, God’s mercy. It hurts physically, but it is said, the one who strives, has a harvest. I hope to reap the hearts and feelings and beliefs of every Filipino,” said Moreno, a former garbage man who became Manila councilor at age 23, Manila vice mayor at age 32 and Manila mayor at age 44.

Meanwhile, Domagoso took time from his hectic presidential campaign schedule on Thursday to lead the groundbreaking ceremonies for the new 10-story Ramon Magsaysay High School in Sampaloc District, the fourth modern public-school building to be built by the city government under his leadership.

“I am happy for you, the day will come, your constituency, will not go away, because the school near them is full, they are forced to go to another school. But with the construction of the new facility, Magsaysay High School’s new school, we can accommodate the future population growth ahead of time.”

“Before there is any demand, in space, we have already prepared to start today,” Moreno told Manila 4th District officials, Department of Education officials, teachers and parents.

At present, Ramon Magsaysay High School accommodates more than 6,300 students – way above its capacity of 4,000 students – and only for Grades 7-10 due to lack of classrooms. Senior high school students have to enroll in other schools outside the district.

“It’s going to be developed based on the modern era, based on the modern challenges of the new era in preparation for continued population growth, where we could better our student-teacher ratio and hopefully, the world standard, we can follow those good things that happening abroad,” Moreno said.

When finished, the new school building will have 232 classroom, 18 faculty rooms, canteen, library, administrative building, auditorium, gym, play area, outdoor sports area, roof deck, 8 elevators, and parking spaces.

It is the second modern school building being built in Sampaloc by the city government under Moreno’s leadership, the other being the Dr. Carlos Albert High School. Meanwhile, also under construction are the Rosauro Almario Elementary School in Tondo and the Manila Science High School located along Taft Avenue.

Education is one of the main pillars of Moreno’s 10-point Bilis Kilos Economic Agenda that will be his guiding principles to accelerate human and economic development once elected president.

Given the chance, the Aksyon Demokratiko presidential candidate said he will prioritize the building of more modern public schools across the country, especially in far-flung provinces and municipalities, to boost the quality of education among Filipino youth.

To further strengthen Philippine public school system, Moreno said his administration will complement education infrastructure with the continuous upscaling of competencies among teachers in all levels.

Moreno also vowed to invest on strengthening the country’s academic and research institutions in agriculture as part of his programs to ensure Philippine food security.

In ending, Moreno quoted the words of the late President Ramon Magsaysay, who he pointed out was just 46 years old when he became president, and under whose term the Philippine achieved its “totoong Golden Age.”

Thus, in these times when candidates promise heaven and earth just to get votes, Moreno said it would be best for people to be reminded of Magsaysay’s words when he said, “What did you do, where were you when we were in need?”

“It is said, there are many words, many stories. But the question of the people is, what is it? Why you? What did you do to the town? What did you do to your fellow Filipinos? Not in word, but in deed. That is what former President Magsaysay means,” he said.

“Human investigation must be in evidence. A candidate or a running, the basis should be the proof you have done,” Moreno added.

Having said that, Moreno said he hoped that he had not failed the expectations of Manileňos when they gave him the opportunity to lead them out of the years of stagnation and neglect from past administrations.

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