Incoming agri secretary wants P30-B rehab fund for the sector

MANILA, Philippines - Incoming agriculture secretary Emmanuel Piñol will ask for a P30-billion additional funding for the rehabilitation of agriculture and fisheries to avert a potential food crisis amid a severe drought and the  recent typhoons that hit the country.

Piñol expressed concern that without the additional funding, food supplies were at risk.

“I have already raised this issue with (incoming) Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez and (incoming) Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno,” Piñol said as he noted the sluggish performance of the agriculture sector.

According to Piñol, the assistance would come in the form of fertilizer and other farm inputs. Livelihood programs will be provided for fishermen.

Agricultural output fell 1.49 percent to P375.2 billion in the first quarter.

The crops sub sector alone,  which contributed 52.06 percent to the total agricultural output, contracted by 8.55 percent.

 “Government must initiate immediate intervention,” he said.

Piñol also said that one of his immediate goals was to boost rice production by an additional one million hectares.  In 2010, 4.35 million hectares were devoted to rice production.