Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez expressed his profound admiration for Filipino farmers as they achieved a historic milestone of producing 20 million metric tons of rice in 2023, marking a significant contribution in addressing the country’s rice shortage.
Romualdez said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. also acknowledged this remarkable achievement, attributing it to a 1.5 percent increase from the previous year, along with the government’s commitment to providing quality seedlings and fertilizers.
He commended Marcos and Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. for their unwavering dedication to bolstering agricultural modernization and enhancing food production despite the challenges posed by El Niño.
He said this exceptional rice production significantly contributed to raising the combined value of the agriculture and fisheries sectors to P1.763 trillion in 2023, exceeding the P1.757 trillion recorded in 2022.
“This exceptional achievement by our hardworking farmers is truly deserving of praise. They are undeniably the cornerstone and solution to our nation’s rice scarcity,” Romualdez, the leader of the 300-plus-strong House of Representatives, said in a press release Feb. 11, adding that “this historic rice harvest signifies a glimmer of hope in resolving the rice shortage predicament we faced in the past year.”
Marcos, a first cousin of the Speaker, announced the significant achievement in rice production for the Philippines Feb. 2.
This notable 1.5 percent increase compared to the rice production in the corresponding period of 2022 highlights the collective dedication and perseverance of all stakeholders involved.
“Our combined efforts have resulted in an impressive rice production exceeding 20 million metric tons in 2023,” the President declared.
Romualdez reiterated that the House “is firmly committed to ensuring a consistent, stable, and affordable supply of essential commodities for Filipinos. We will exercise the chamber’s mandate to safeguard the interests of the public to the fullest extent possible.” ||
