Balisacan says Philippine agriculture in crisis

Incoming Socioeconomic Planning secretary and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) chief Arsenio Balisacan said Tuesday the Philippines' agriculture sector is already in crisis.

In a television interview, Balisacan was asked if there is already a food crisis in the Philippines. He then cited the soaring prices of rice and meat products as well as the "low profitability" in farming, which has depicted the dilemma in the agriculture sector.

"Food crisis have risen already and as you know the Avian Flu, this problem has been with us that has led to grippling price increases of meat, rice prices have also been a problem that while the tariffication has brought down the cap of prices quite a bit, they are still high and the issues that concern farmers, the low profitability of rice farming in agriculture and farming in general have to be faced so with that I would say that our agriculture is in crisis," he said in an interview with CNN Philippines.

Asked if the situation will get worse, Balisacan said this could continue in the coming months as other nations are already eyeing to adjust the quantity of their export products for the benefit of their citizens.

"Some of the exporting countries are now planning to limit their exports to also protect their citizens from the prices. Many countries including us are going to address these realities by increasing their production," he said.

With these issues in the agriculture sector, Balisacan stressed the need to protect the poor and vulnerable sector, noting that they should be given the assistance they need in these difficult times.

He reiterated the remark of President-elect Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. that ramping up the process of the issuance of the National ID will help in the speedy distribution of assistance to the poor.

"Ang sa akin ang pinakauna (For me, the first thing), the rapid increase in price is already here and likely to get worse before they even get better. So we must protect the poorest and vulnerable groups in our society. We have to strengthen 'yung ayuda natin, but this time make sure the ayuda will go to the serving groups and not just to anyone," Balisacan said.

Balisacan's remark came after Marcos announced that he would sit as Agriculture secretary "for now," saying that he is giving high priority to the issues besetting the said sector.

Marcos said he wants to increase food production in the Philippines and restructure the Agriculture department.—AOL, GMA News