DA, inilatag ang mga hakbang vs ASF; Mga kongresista, suportado ang pagbibigay ng dagdag-budget sa DA sa ilalim ng 2025 national budget
DA, inilatag ang mga hakbang vs ASF; Mga kongresista, suportado ang pagbibigay ng dagdag-budget sa DA sa ilalim ng 2025 national budget
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00:00Many congressmen supported the addition of funds to the Department of Agriculture for the next year
00:08as part of the country's food security.
00:12The government is also focusing on the ASF.
00:16The details in the report of Mela Lesmoras.
00:23Agriculture Secretary Francisco Chu Laurel Jr. assured
00:27that the supply of pork will not be lacking in the market on the other side of the African Swine Fever.
00:33He said their monitoring is tight in the ASF
00:36and next week, he expects the first batch of vaccines will arrive here.
00:41Eight towns in Batangas are affected.
00:45And basically, we have set up checkpoints with the PNP
00:49and of course, DA officials
00:51to control the exportation of pork from those areas.
00:58Definitely, the shortage is not the same as before, it will not happen, right?
01:02Then, a vaccine will arrive.
01:04So if the vaccine works, then there will be no shortage.
01:09The media was able to capture the secret after facing the House Committee on Appropriations
01:15regarding their allocation of funds for the next year.
01:19Under the 2025 National Expenditure Program,
01:23the proposed budget of the agency is worth P200.2 billion,
01:27which is 6% lower than their allocation under the 2024 General Appropriations Act.
01:34According to Chu Laurel, it would be better if their 2025 budget is added
01:40to ensure food security in the country.
01:43Well, definitely, we are serious about what we will do, Mr. Chair.
01:49It is unfortunate that our request of P500 billion became P200 billion.
01:57I guess it boils down to what our government can provide.
02:04But of course, we will ask for a little more, if possible,
02:11before the end of the year, I guess,
02:16on how we can ask for more.
02:19With your support, I hope we can get additional funding.
02:24Many congressmen supported the addition of funds for the DA,
02:29but one of them reminded them...
02:31It's good that we give additional budget to the Department of Agriculture,
02:37but we need to review the performance of all these attached agencies
02:43so that we know exactly how they perform and how they are performing right now
02:48before we add all these billions of pesos to the respective attached agencies that were mentioned, Mr. Chair.
02:56Aside from this, the issue of rice was also discussed.
03:00The DA's request continues to increase local production
03:05and to lower the price of rice in the country.
03:09On a bigger project, we will be targeting a plan with a convergence plan of the whole of DA
03:18that by next planting season, October, we will be targeting 50,000 hectares of planted area of rice.
03:27We will plant the right seeds, give the right fertilizer,
03:31the right machineries in order to achieve P29 without losing the concept of contract farming.
03:43Some of the issues raised are importation and the fight against corruption.
03:50One of the priorities of the government is the sector of agriculture.
03:54That's why the lawmakers are insisting that it will also be reflected in the national fund for the next year.
04:00Melales Moras for Pambansang TV in Bagong, Philippines.