DAVAO CITY – Mindanao Development Authority Secretary Emmanuel Piñol has called on Mindanaoan leaders to ease the burden of President Rodrigo Duterte as the government musters all its resources to fight the 2019 coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
“Last night, we all heard the pained admission of President Duterte that our government is now in dire straits financially because of the expense required in combating the Covid-19 pandemic. Everything is at a standstill and our government could not sustain this if the quarantine protocols and lockdowns continue,” he said on a Facebook post on Tuesday.
Piñol urged Mindanaoan leaders to start with boosting agricultural production to increase food supply and support relief operations.
“I believe it is in areas unaffected by the Covid-19 pandemic where we should initiate Mindanao's effort to support our President. Let us support our President by restarting our production engines," he said. "Let us produce more food so that the country will not run out of supplies."
Piñol said local governments can start adopting MinDA's Self-Sustaining Food Security Strategy (SSFSS).
“Let us not be unreasonable in implementing total lockdowns, especially at the barangay level. Loosen some guidelines so that our farmers and fishermen can still work and perform their jobs,” he said.
Part of the SSFSS recommendation is for the governors and mayors to use their calamity funds or realign some of their budgets as authorized by the Bayanihan Act to support the farmers and fisherfolk in producing food.
“Let us not rely on our national agencies alone. It is also hard for them to mobilize because of the current situation,” he pointed out.
He also encouraged farmers and fishermen to produce more food, especially on rice.
“Any excess in food production must be absorbed by the LGUs and distributed to their constituents as food supply support,” Piñol said.
He said MinDA is also doing its part in ensuring that farmers' products are given wider market access. (PNA)
