President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has vowed to fully utilize new farming technology to ensure continued supply of rice amidst the spiraling cost of this staple food in the country.
Marcos made this statement during the launching of the 2023 Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU)-Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) rice paddy art where also he cited the urgency of applying research and studies in the laboratory to the farmlands.
“There’s a necessary work to be done for us to be able to, I say, take the new technology from the laboratory to the rice field. And that is where we now come in,” according to the President.
He also cited how the new farming techniques have become adaptive to the effects of climate change.
“Ang daming kailangang baguhin, kailangang pag-aralan so that we can make sure that we have a stable source of supply and that the supply is affordable to ordinary Filipinos,” points out Marcos, concurrent secretary of the Department of Agriculture.
“We have had to control the prices of rice because the markets are very volatile, so we are trying to stabilize it here in the Philippines … kailangan taasan natin ang production natin (we have to increase our rice production),” the Chief Executive emphasized.
Marcos led the launching of the MMSU-PhilRice’s Rice Paddy Art, featuring his facial image and his “Bagong Pilipinas” governance tagline which coincided with the 106th birth anniversary of his father, the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos in Batac City, Ilocos Norte.
The rice paddy art was conceptualized to honor individuals who have made significant contributions to the development of the agricultural sector.