DAVAO CITY — The Office of the Presidential Assistant for Eastern Mindanao and the Department of Agriculture has vowed to work hand in hand in improving the agriculture situation of Eastern Mindanao.

In a statement, Secretary Leo Tereso Magno said he met with DA Secretary Francisco Laurel Jr. recently to discuss their plans to help the farmers and ensure food security in the country.

With Mindanao among the country's biggest suppliers of agricultural products, Magno said it is fitting to prioritize the island in the administration's agricultural roadmap.

"We can assure the farmers that he will work hand-in-hand with DA to give them better farming equipment from the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.," he said.

Laurel has been visiting Eastern Mindanao after he was appointed agriculture secretary last year.

He said that he wanted to know the situation of the farmers in the area.