Marcos touts Philippine record-high rice output in 2023

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Saturday touted the record-high rice production in 2023.

“Dahil sa ating sama-samang pagsisikap, nagtamo tayo ng tala ng ani noong 2023 na umabot sa mahigit 20 milyong metric ton ng palay,” Marcos said in his speech during the ceremonial palay harvesting and distribution of various assistance in Candaba, Pampanga.

The Philippines registered a record-high production volume of 20.06 million metric tons (MT) of palay in 2023, higher than the 19.76 million MT rice production in 2022.

“Ito ay nagpapakita ng 1.5%, isa’t kalahating porsyento ng pagtaas mula sa nakaraang taon o dagdag na mahigit na 300,000 tonelada ng palay ang naidagdag sa nakaraang taon. Ang pamamahagi ng mas magandang uri ng binhi at pagbibigay ng malawakang suporta sa pataba ay siyang nagbunga ng positibong resulta na ito,” Marcos said.

He added that the record-high rice volume helped boost the overall value of production in the country’s agriculture and fisheries sectors to P1.763 trillion in 2023, which is higher than the P1.757 trillion level in 2022.

Marcos attributed the increase of rice production to the government’s distribution of high-quality seedlings and the distribution of fertilizers to Filipino farmers as he emphasized that it shows their dedication and hard work.

Amid the record-high rice harvest last year, the country saw rice inflation accelerate to its fastest in 14 years at 19.6% in December.

This is the quickest inflation print for the food staple since March 2009, when rice inflation clocked in at 22.9%.

To further aid the rice industry, Marcos said the government allotted P31 billion under the National Rice Program to intensify his administration’s programs such as the production support, extension services, research and development, and irrigation network services.

The President added that the government would also utilize the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund to strengthen the agriculture sector and to assist farmers. 

A huge chunk of the fund would be used for the distribution of tillers, tractors, seeders, threshers, rice planters, reapers, driers, among others.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) allocated P10 billion under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund, which aims to enhance the competitiveness of the rice industry through rice seed development, and the provision of farm equipment, credit and extension services.

The chief executive also emphasized that the government allotted funds, through the Land Bank of the Philippines and the Development Bank of the Philippines, to provide additional cash assistance to farmers.

Moreover, Marcos said the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech), Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), Agricultural Training Institute, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) would introduce modern farming methods to farmers.

While in Candaba, the President led the ceremonial harvesting of palay in Barangay Mandili in Candaba and led the distribution of various assistance to farmers, including hauling trucks, seeds, financial assistance, among others to more than 12,000 farmers and ten farmers’ cooperatives and associations.

The DA, for its part, provided fertilizer discount vouchers worth P99.8 million in Candaba along with a P5 million grant for working capital and hauling vehicles to 150 farmers; and construction of agricultural infrastructure, among others.

“Ang ating pagtutulungan na mapaunlad ang ating sektor ng agrikultura ay isa lamang sa mga pangunahing hakbang tungo sa pagbuo ng isang Bagong Pilipinas— kung saan walang nagugutom at ang lahat ay masigabong kumikilos para sa mas masaganang kinabukasan,” Marcos said. — DVM, GMA Integrated News