Incoming Department of Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol revealed the plans of the Duterte administration for the Agriculture sectors of the country. The former Governor of North Cotabato noted that under Pres. Duterte, the DA will focus on the country’s top 10 poorest provinces as part of the incoming president’s thrust to increase food production and to alleviate poverty in the entire Philippines.
Under Pres. Duterte, the Department of Agriculture will implment a unique strategy called Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD). The Agriculture Department would look at the weaknesses of an area, and its potentials in food production and livelihood programs.
Based upon the records of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), there are 10 areas in the Philippines with the highest poverty incidence per family.
The 10 poorest provinces in the Philippines are Lanao del Sur (67.3 percent), Eastern Samar (55.4), Apayao (54.7), Maguindanao (54.5), Zamboanga del Norte (48), Sarangani (46), North Cotabato (44.8), Negros Oriental (43.9), and Northern and Western Samar (both with 43.5 percent).
According to the plans of the Department of Agriculture (DA) a “SAAD project management team, composed of technical people from the DA and the Province, they will established to identify the problems confronting the area and find solutions,” Piñol said.
The Department of Agriculture and other agencies would come in and provide funding support, with focus on livelihood programs “proven to be sure-fire formula in addressing poverty.” he said.