MANILA: Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr vowed on Monday (Jul 4) to accomplish what it takes to boost his country’s rice and corn production, seeking to reduce reliance on imports and avoid being hit hard by a food crisis right now looming across the world.
Marcos, who was sworn in as president last week and has appointed himself agriculture minister, mentioned the Philippines — the world’s second-biggest rice importer – was now in a disadvantageous position more than its food supply.
“When we look around the world, everyone is getting yourself ready for it, ” Marcos said during a meeting with senior agriculture authorities, referring to the food turmoil.
“So we ought to really pay close attention to what we should can do. ”
Marcos comes to strength at a critical period, with inflation with its highest in more than three years so that as the world faces the tightening food supply, resulting from the conflict between major cereals exporters Russia and Ukraine.
A records of the meeting offered by the presidential talked about no specific remedial measures or goals, but Marcos stated the government would make certain affordability of foods prices.
To ensure long-term food adequacy and affordability, Marcos reiterated a strategy promise to “reconstruct our value chain”, within his six-year term, to lessen dependence on food imports.
He also sought a review of a 2019 Rice Tariffication Law, which opened the particular Philippine door wider to imports simply by removing the yearly quota on purchases and limiting the particular government’s role in rice trade to ensuring supply during events.
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