By BEVERLY C. PAOYON
GENERAL SANTOS CITY (March 7, 2012) – The Department of Agriculture (DA) and local government units (LGU) in Region 12 have defined roles and equity sharing to improve implementation of agricultural programs during the DA-LGU complementation forum held Tuesday (March 6).
Goals were defined based on the theme, “Sama-sama Nating Kamtin ang Kasapatan sa Pagkain Tungo sa Mas Masagana at Maunlad na 2012.”
During the forum, Agriculture Assistant Secretary Edilberto De Luna advocated the need to strengthen the implementation of agricultural programs “dahil nahaharap tayo sa napakalaking hamon na ipagpatuloy ang nasimulan na natin na pagkakaroon ng sapat na pagkain” in which he explained as integrated in the Philippine Development Plan 2011-2016.
The plan, which was approved by the National Economic and Development Authority board on March 2011, outlined the national government’s inclusive growth that would generate massive employment and reduce poverty.
De Luna recognized the impact of the complementation which prompted the 7.3% and 4.4% production growth in palay and corn, respectively, in Region 12 for 2011.
Regional executive director Amalia Datukan expressed confidence that with the LGUs and the active participation of the agriculture extension workers, the department “will meet the goal of food staple sufficiency as targeted.”
She reported 98% achievement of the projects of DA in the region in 2011 for the combined implementation of the Agri-Pinoy Program, rice, corn, high value crops, and livestock which Datukan claimed to have maintained position being the number one palay producer in Mindanao and fifth nationwide.
In high value crops, Region 12 was on top in coffee production in the Philippines that reached to 28,502.96 metric tons and second in rubber and banana production. This status, Datukan said, “made Region 12 an essential contributor to the goal of Philippine agriculture.”
Along with the significant achievements of DA, Datukan also announced that survey results of the recent Social Weather Station delisted DA from the top 10 most corrupt agencies in the country.
In her keynote speech, General Santos City Mayor Darlene Antonino Custodio stressed that the economic growth of Region 12 would still come from the agricultural sector.”
“Kadalasan ang mga economist ay lumalayo sa sector ng agrikultura dahil kung titingnan ay napakaliit po ng returns ng agricultural sector, however, this is only true because we are not yet at the optimum of our productivity,” Custodio said.
She also cited the “need to bring production at its optimum level that is why at the Regional Development Council we are trying to converge all of the programs not only of DA but also the programs of Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Trade and Industry, and other agencies towards the support to the agricultural sector.”
The complementation of all these agencies, according to the mayor, is essential towards the vision of staple food sufficiency.
However, she also pointed out the need to level up production, packaging, and the logistical sectors for the region “to become the food basket” in the country. Custodio said food and grains terminals proposed and constructed in barangays and municipalities will complement in gaining “bigger access in the national markets and hopefully for most of our products to the international market.”
Meanwhile, Sarangani Governor Migs Dominguez said “to ensure that our industries, our economy is competitive, hindi tataas ang cost production, tayo ang maging competitive vis-à-vis other areas para maging competitive at buhay na buhay ang ekonomiya natin at ang mga kabataan ay makakahanap ng trabaho and our economy is growing to support new entrants.”
“It’s really up for the government to provide necessary atmosphere and investments,” Dominguez also said. For more news and updates, please visit the www.sarangani.gov.ph. (Beverly C. Paoyon/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)
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