STOP AGRI PRODUCT IMPORTS, HELP PINOY FARMERS MORE

Sarangani Governor Steve Solon (left) and Senator Bongbong Marcos answering questions on various economic and political issues from both the local and national media during the press briefing at the Sarangani Provincial Capitol.

  Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr. this week said  the government should abandon its penchant for importing agricultural products and instead provide easy credit facilities to farmers, lead research and development in agriculture, improve the country’s irrigation system which has deteriorated since 1984, and continue  pursuing the construction of more farm-to-market roads in strategic areas.

 Marcos said statistics show that 70 percent of the poor are in the agriculture sector.

“Kaya’t sa palagay ko balikan muna natin ang agrikultura and make public investments not only in funding, infrastructure and in all other ways we can help our farmers.”

  Earlier, reports said the country’s economy grew by 6 percent in the third quarter of the year, the third fastest expansion of economies in Asia in the quarter with China and Vietnam leading respectively.

“Sinasabi nila ang ganda raw ng ating ekonomiya, one of the best in Asia pero hindi nararamdaman ng taong bayan. Ang yumayaman lamang yung mayaman na at yung mga malalaking korporasyon. Kaya’t ang dapat nating tinitingnan ay inclusive growth,” Marcos said in his speech during the celebration of Sarangani Province’s 23rd anniversary.

Marcos emphasized, “Government must institute measures to ensure the benefits of economic growth will be felt by all Filipinos.”

 Marcos lamented that despite the good performance of the country’s economy the poverty rate remains practically unchanged along with the unemployment rate, prompting many Filipinos to seek jobs (outside the Philippines).

“Let us start from the very foundation of our economy—the agricultural sector. I believe that doing so would make our country a better place for all of our people,” Marcos concluded.

On the other hand, Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. virtually turned the tables on President Aquino who has asked him to apologize to the people. Marcos said Mr. Aquino himself should apologize if he thinks he has done something wrong as President of the Philippines.

 Marcos said the people are more interested on issues that directly affect their lives on a daily basis and their future, “People are looking for answers on why the drug problem in the country is getting so bad. Why are the prices of commodities so high? Why can’t I get a job?”

 Marcos asserted, “The people want solutions to the lingering poverty in the country, the lack of jobs and other woes.”/MP