MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines and the United States have affirmed their intention to work together to improve the country’s agriculture sector, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA)
In a statement yesterday, the DA said Agriculture Secretary William Dar recently met with United States Charge d’Affaires Heather Variava.
“During the virtual meeting, Dar briefly shared to CDA Variava the four pillars of the reform agenda to consolidate, modernize, and industrialize the Philippine agriculture sector including initiatives for livestock, dairy, fisheries, among others,”the DA said.
DA also highlighted the DA’s ongoing actions to address the challenges brought by the pandemic, such as the enhanced Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita program.
The program facilitates the selling of major agricultural goods at reasonable prices to the consuming public through partnerships with local government units and the private sector.
Dar emphasized the urgent need to mobilize necessary resources to undertake critical measures to address the spread of African swine fever (ASF) such as leveling-up existing diagnostic laboratories while stressing the importance of research in the livestock industry.
“Citing damages of Typhoon Odette to the local agri-fishery sector, Dar cited the need for assistance to affected farmers and fishers,”the DA said.
Figures from the DA-Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center showed that damage to agriculture caused by Typhoon Odette reached P13.4 billion.
Meanwhile, Dar also encouraged the renewal of the US Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) for the Philippines as it helps the Philippines attract investments, create new industries and new jobs and encourage supply chain resiliency.
The US GSP allowed duty-free treatment for products coming from beneficiary countries.
Dar also invited US investors into the industries such as coco chips, coco board manufacturing as well as seafood processing and canning.
“With a number of agricultural partnerships between the two countries, Variava affirmed that US programs are in place to support and complement the Philippines’ undertakings in the agriculture sector,”the DA said.