Marcos wants improved flow of goods amid LGU policies, checkpoints

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday pushed for the improved flow of goods in the agriculture sector in a bid to lower food prices.

According to a Palace news release, Marcos made the remark in a Cabinet meeting in which the complaints of cargo handlers as regards local government policies and law enforcement checkpoints were raised.

“We cannot afford to do that anymore. The logistical challenge is clear, and we are not handling it,” Marcos said.

Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. will discuss the issue with the chiefs of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

Having express lanes for food trucks, which was implemented during COVID-19 community quarantines, was also mentioned.

“Actually sir, kung tutuusin hindi talaga dapat eh. Dapat free-flowing eh," Abalos said.

(Actually sir, goods should be free-flowing.)

The use of technology to address the logistical problem was also taken up as agricultural products can be tracked to identify bottlenecks and raise possible issues with the concerned LGUs.

Aside from food security, affordable energy and housing were also discussed during the meeting, said Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles.

"Kaninang umaga nagkaroon ng Cabinet meeting at ang mga agenda ay tatlo: ang mga inisyatiba ng Department of Agriculture on food security, tapos sumunod sa kanya ang Department of Energy, 'yung part two ng presentation ni Secretary (Raphael) Lotilla towards adequate, accessible and affordable energy," Cruz-Angeles said at a presser.

(This morning, a Cabinet meeting was held and those included in the agenda were the initiatives of the Department of Agriculture on food security, then the presentation of the Department of Energy on adequate, accessible and affordable energy.) —NB, GMA News