CEBU CITY, Cebu, Oct. 19 (PIA) -- The Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Region 7 in partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DA) Region 7 conducted a regionwide information caravan on food security for public information officers (PIOs) in Central Visayas.

A total of six briefings were done in the four provinces of Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor with PIOs from the local government units and regional and provincial line agencies.

The series of briefings, which began in August until September, aimed to communicate the current guidelines and priorities of Pres. Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr., who is at the helm of the agriculture department in attaining food sufficiency for the country.

DA7 Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Information Section Chief Cheryl dela Victoria told the PIOs during the briefings, that the agency is now focusing on ensuring adequate food supply by increasing local production, particularly on rice, corn, high value crops, livestock, and poultry.

The DA will also focus on food mobilization to ensure that consumers will have access to safe and quality food items at affordable prices, said dela Victoria.

She also discussed the program on the transformation of Philippine agriculture as “OneDA Reform Agenda” based on consolidation, modernization, industrialization and professionalization, and science-based key strategies to make the agriculture sector competitive with their banner programs on rice, corn, high-value crops, livestock, organic and Halal.

This program aims to address food security, poverty alleviation, and sustainable growth through increased farm income and productivity.

One of the highlights in her presentation was the program on “Urban and Peri Urban Agriculture” which focuses on the objectives of ensuring food security for the urban and peri-urban population, reducing food miles into food steps to lower fuel consumption and cost of logistics, creating livelihood opportunities, and promoting a healthy lifestyle by making available nutritious food for Filipinos specifically in urban and peri-urban areas.

Dela Victoria also presented the implementation of the proposed rice programs under the Masagana 150 and Masagana 200 to be launched in October.

She said the Masagana 150 would yield 7.5 tons of inbred rice per hectare at a production cost of P8.38 per kilogram.
This would translate to a net profit of P50,000 per hectare for farmers based on a market price of P27.50 per kilogram.

The Masagana 200, on the other hand, targets a higher yield of 10 tons of hybrid rice per hectare at a production cost of P7.82 per kilogram.

This would give farmers a net of P70,000 based on a market price of P27.50 per kilogram, said dela Victoria.

She emphasized the statement of the President who said that “we need an immediate plan to ensure that our food supply and the food prices are within reach of ordinary Filipinos from now until the end of this year.”

The team led by PIA7 Regional Head Fayette Riñen brought the information caravan around the region during the monthly general assembly of the PIOs to strengthen the advocacy on food security initiatives in relation to the President’s directives on agriculture.

During the provincial visits, the PIA7 team also paid courtesy calls on the governors and some of the local chief executives to articulate the priority thrusts of the Marcos administration, particularly on agriculture.

The PIA and DA here will continue to strengthen advocacy efforts in promoting agricultural development to achieve food security and promote a resilient Philippines with empowered and  prosperous farmers and fisherfolks. (HFG/PIA7)