The farmers do not incur losses under the government’s P20-per-kilo rice program, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. stressed in one of several agriculture-related highlights of his fourth State of the Nation Address (SoNA) yesterday.

“We have proven that we can achieve P20 per kilo of rice without causing farmers to incur losses,” Marcos said in Filipino in his speech at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City.

The President noted the government has successfully launched the cheaper rice project in Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao — specifically in San Juan City, Pangasinan, Cavite, Occidental Mindoro, Cebu, Bacolod, Guimaras, Siquijor and Davao del Sur.

He said that with an allocated P113 billion, the government will strengthen the program and roll it out nationwide through the establishment of more Kadiwa stores.

He also warned traders who may attempt to manipulate the prices of palay (unmilled rice) and rice.

“We will go after you because what you’re doing is economic sabotage,” he said.

Besides rice, the government is boosting the production of corn, pineapple, banana, mango, coffee, cacao, calamansi, sugarcane, onion, garlic, and others, Marcos also reported.

Boosting hog production

To curb rising pork prices, he said the government is ramping up local hog production by distributing sows and piglets.

“We have begun vaccinations against ASF, and we will further expand the vaccination efforts against it,” he added, referring to the African swine fever outbreak that has affected the pork industry.

Farm to market roads

Marcos touted the infrastructure gains in the agriculture sector, citing thousands of kilometers of farm-to-market roads already built, with more to follow.

“Thousands of hectares of land across the country have been irrigated and thousands more will be provided with irrigation. We have also opened and distributed thousands of pieces of machinery and facilities for our farmers and fisherfolk,” he said.

He added that more rice processing system facilities will be built and fiberglass boats will be distributed to help local fisherfolk.