DISTRIBUTION. Presidential sister Senator Imee Marcos leads the distribution of some PHP7.5 million worth of Assistance to Indigents in Crisis Situations (AICS) in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija on Sunday (Dec. 11, 2022). She also delivered PHP5-million fund for an agriculture project in Talavera town, and 1,000 pieces of noche buena packs with vegetables from north Luzon and toys for three villages in the city. (Contributed photo)
CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija – Presidential sister Senator Imee Marcos on Sunday urged people behind the proposed sovereign wealth fund to focus on addressing the skyrocketing prices of consumer goods and "degenerative agriculture".
Marcos, who delivered a total of PHP7.5 million worth of Assistance to Indigents in Crisis Situations (AICS) in Science City of Munoz, Talavera town and this city, said it was good that the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and Social Security System (SSS) were removed on the list of funders but still filled with ambiguity.
She also delivered PHP5-million funds for an agriculture project in the municipality of Talavera, and 1,000 pieces of Noche Buena packs with vegetables from north Luzon and toys for three villages in the city.
Marcos said she believes that investment should not be given focus for the meantime.
"Tutukan muna natin ang pagtaas ng presyo at kakulangan ng pagkain at ang hirap na dinadanas ng ating mga magsasaka (Let us focus first in the increasing prices and shortage of food and the hardships being experienced by our farmers)," she said, adding that farmers, including onion growers in Nueva Ecija and Ilocos Norte, have the same predicaments.
"Ang problema natin sa irigasyon, mga bulok na ang Pantabangan, mga luma na, Magat lahat 'yan lahat luma na at ang tatay ko pa ang nagpatayo eh siyempre pag nakadaan na ang 50 na taon, ang tawag diyan e talagang for replacement na (Our problem is our irrigation. The Pantabangan is already old and also Magat, all are old and it was my father who built these. Of course, if it was already 50 years have passed, these really for replacement already)," Marcos said.
Overused agricultural lands, she said, are becoming less productive.
"Maraming marami tayong problema sa agrikultura kaya para sa akin, bago tayo sumabak diyan sa Maharlika (Wealth Fund), kung anu-anong investment sovereign ek-ek e pwede ba yung problemang pangkaraniwan na hinaharap natin araw-araw, yun muna tutukan natin (We have so many problems in the agriculture. Thus for me, before we think for Maharlika and whatever investment sovereign, can we focus first on the ordinary problems that we are facing daily?)," Marcos added. (PNA)
