UniTeam senatorial candidate Harry Roque pledged to support farmers to ensure a steady food supply for Filipinos and boost local agricultural products.
Roque, a former presidential spokesperson, said the government should invest in agriculture as part of the post-pandemic recovery.
“Sa larangan ng agrikultura, kinakailangan na mag-invest talaga tayo ng capital dahil nakita naman natin ang agrikultura ang tanging sektor na hindi po lumiit at lumago pa bagamat nagkaroon tayo ng pandemya importante po ‘yan,” Roque said in an interview with Kabuhayang Pinoy.
“Importante rin na magkaroon tayo ng stable na suplay pagkain, tinatawag na food security at dapat pong ipatuloy natin ang suporta sa ating mga magsasaka hindi lang sa kapital,” he continued.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) said the country has enough essential food commodities amid the pandemic.
He identified the high-priced fertilizer as one of the major problems of farmers due to the rising fuel price.
On Tuesday, the oil price raised for the fifth straight week. Fertilizer is a byproduct of oil; thus, increases in crude oil prices put pressure on domestic fertilizer prices.
Roque also said he would support locally produced consumer items, such as personal protective equipment (PPE) and face masks, which he described as world class.
In May 2021, the Senate proposed to use local PPEs and other COVID-related needs for the country’s overall economic recovery.
