PIA Mindanao Dispatch Government determined to combat poverty in major agricultural areas

The government continues to focus on measures to address poverty in the agricultural sector, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said on Thursday (Nov. 27).

Based on studies conducted by the government’s economic cluster and social protection and poverty reduction cluster, the large concentration of farmers could be found in provinces with high poverty incidence, Secretary Coloma said.

Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan also reported a 2.7 percent contraction in the agriculture, fishery and forestry sectors for the third quarter of the year, contributing to the slower 5.3 percent growth in gross domestic product (GDP).

The Aquino government, he said, has already laid out comprehensive programs for the agricultural sector with corresponding allocation from the government's annual budget.

To address structural issues in the sector, the President has appointed Secretary Francis Pangilinan to head the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Agricultural Modernization, according to Coloma.

These concerns include the aging population of Filipino farmers that affects productivity, high poverty incidence, as well as destruction brought about by calamities that hit agricultural areas.

"Maraming mga hamon at ang mga ito ay tinutugunan. Mayroon nang komprehensibong programang nakalatag sa kasalukuyang 2014 budget at doon na rin sa 2015 budget," he said. (PCOO News Release)