DA affirms commitment to always serve Filipino farmers, fishers

‘OUR raison d’être is to serve you yesterday, today, and for the years and decades to come.”

This was the message of Department of Agriculture (DA) Undersecretary for Administration and Finance Agnes Catherine Miranda to the country’s farmers and fisherfolk during the closing ceremony of the 2023 National Farmers’ and Fisherfolk’s Month (NFFM).

Miranda, who is also this year’s NFFM Chairperson, added that the long history of the DA is defined by its continuing desire to raise the quality of life of farmers and fisherfolk.

“This is why we honor you again today, not only to express our gratitude, but also to affirm our commitment as your partners in development,” she said.

Presidential proclamation

THROUGH Proclamation No. 33 signed in 1989, former President Corazon C. Aquino declared the month of May every year as “Farmers’ and Fisherfolk’s Month” which recognizes the major role farmers and fisherfolk play in economic recovery by contributing a quarter to the gross domestic product and generating 40 percent of the country’s export revenue.

“The government has accorded highest priority to the development of agriculture and fishery not only to achieve an equitable distribution of benefits and opportunities, but also enable the farmers and fishermen to maximize their contribution to the nation’s wealth,” the proclamation read.

During the month-long celebration themed “Masaganang Agrikultura, Maunlad na Ekonomiya,” the DA organized various activities featuring major agricultural subsector such as halal and organic agriculture, crops, livestock, and fisheries each week.

Weekly activities

Activities included weekly exhibits, free public webinars and technology demonstrations highlighting modern agri-fishery practices and products, cooking demonstrations, and distribution of seeds and seedlings, among others.

“Our aggressive push to put each of these subsectors in the limelight is driven by our belief that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, and that prosperity in the Philippine agriculture and fisheries can only be meaningful if growth is inclusive of all major subsectors whether it be for crops, livestock, or fisheries,” Miranda said.

This month, the DA officials led by Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban also awarded plaques of recognition to the outstanding farmers and fisherfolk who are active partners of the DA in the implementation of its various programs for the sector’s sustainable development.

“As we conclude the National Farmers’ and Fisherfolk’s Month, we do not cease to pay tribute to our farmers and fisherfolk,” Miranda stressed.

She added that the annual celebration is not a token gesture but a constant reminder of the farmers’ and fisherfolk’s vital role in nationbuilding.

“Moreover, it is a time for reflection that our obligations as public servants to our farmers and fisherfolk are far from over,” she said.

(PNA PHOTOS BY BEN BRIONES) The Department of Agriculture (DA) highlighted different crops technology and products at the lobby of its central office in Quezon City in celebration of May as Farmers and Fisherfolk Month. This year's theme, "Masaganang Agrikultura, Maunlad na Demokrasya" (Bountiful Agriculture, Thriving Democracy), signifies that a productive agri-fishery sector is a key foundation of a vibrant competitive economy.