PH Food Chamber Calls on Pres. Marcos to Declare State of Calamity for Food Sufficiency

The Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc. (PCAFI) is calling on President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to deliberate on declaring a state of calamity for food sufficiency in the country to capacitate him to swiftly address all problems and prevent a possible food crisis.

PCAFI President Danilo Fausto has mentioned that this declaration would allow President Marcos to direct LGUs or local government units to use at least 10% of their internal revenue allotment (IRA) for agricultural production. Currently, President Marcos has yet to appoint the leader of the Department of Agriculture. In absence of an appointment, the President has announced that he will head the agriculture department.

Fausto has stated that “It might be necessary, I’m not saying it is, for the President to declare a state of emergency or calamity for food sufficiency. In the basis, perhaps it can be reviewed by the legal department and Malacañang if it’s possible so that the President can encourage and direct the local government units to direct some funds for agriculture production,”

“The agriculture sector must be assisted within their area of responsibility. It will not be taken out of their area but the direction of the funds from the LGU should go to food production,”  Fausto also adds.

In the Mandanas-Garcia ruling, LGU funds will be increased by an estimated ₱230 billion. According to Fausto, the President’s declaration will trigger more involvement from the LGUs and use their available funds to increase the production of agriculture for the rest of the year.

Source: CNN Philippines