Laurel pitches marine, agro enclaves to WB

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. called for amendments to the charter of the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority to include the management of marine estates across the country among its functions.

Laurel, who built one of Southeast Asia's largest fishing companies before joining the Department of Agriculture, explained that PFDA's functions dovetail with those of the Philippine Rural Development Program.      

The PFDA and PRDP, he said, are part of the administration's Bagong Pilipinas strategies to ensure an ample food supply.

Last 22 November, the DA chief presented the government's latest PRDP report to the World Bank, describing his vision for marine and agro-industrial estates as one-stop shops.

He said such facilities should house ports, cold storage facilities, silos and warehouses to store marine and farm products such as rice, sugar, vegetables, palm oil and other basic commodities.

"I've seen this model successfully implemented in South Korea and Japan. I hope the World Bank can help us realize this vision," Laurel said.

The World Bank identified potential funding sources for Philippine agriculture, like grants from the European Union and the Global Environment Facility to support marine-protected areas.

Laurel also put forth the need for a digital transformation in agriculture and improvements in the sector's logistics.

"Definitely, we need a logistics master plan. That is one thing that I think is lacking in the DA," said Laurel, who disclosed that he would soon appoint an assistant secretary whose sole focus would be logistics to ensure that public funds are well spent.

Budget alignment

Laurel said he has been meeting with lawmakers recently to seek possible adjustments in the DA's 2024 budget to better align it with the Marcos administration's goal of increasing farm production to ensure food security and increase the income of farmers and fishermen.

The government estimates that 10 million farmers and fishermen live below the poverty line despite agriculture providing jobs for one in every four Filipino workers.

The latest economic data showed agriculture's contribution to the domestic economy shrinking to single digits amid increasing dependence on imports, particularly rice and meat products.

The Philippines' agricultural trade deficit in 2022 due to higher imports was equivalent to P660 billion, around four times the DA's budget for next year.

"We need to scale up and get our priorities straight," Laurel stressed. "I have technically
three-and-a-half years to accomplish these things. The DA, under my watch, will do its best to speed things up."