Prioritize agri-business, Go tells DA

Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, while he expressed support for the passage of the proposed 2021 budget of the Department of Agriculture, also urged the agency to step up efforts in ramping up agricultural trainings and businesses to help cushion the blow of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in the country.

“I trust the department to stay true to its vision and continue their efforts in providing reprieve to our less fortunate farmers and fisherfolk and ensure production, availability, accessibility and affordability, price stability, sustainability and food safety,” Go said during the Senate’s budget hearing the other day.

“Especially now that our economy has been badly hit by the crisis, we are ‘back to basics.’ We saw how valuable the agriculture sector is to our country and our everyday living. Rebooting our economy will be done faster if we will further strengthen the agriculture sector in the provinces,” he added.

In line with this, the lawmaker urged the DA to complement the BP2 program in revitalizing the country’s agricultural sector as many Filipinos expressed willingness to participate in the program and be reintegrated in the rural communities.

He also emphasized that the government must provide agricultural training and strengthen programs promoting agri-preneurship.

“Many lost their livelihood because of the crisis. If they will go back to their hometowns in the provinces, they then should be given opportunities which are good fits to their hometowns. Most of our province’ local economies are agriculture-driven,” he noted.

“Agriculture will be the main source of income of those going back to the provinces which is why we must step up efforts in implementing programs which will teach and support those willing to get into farming, fishing, and other agriculture-related initiatives,” he added. KM