Piōol urges Filipinos to grow own food, not rely on imports

Mindanao Development Authority Secretary Emmanuel Piōol urges Filipinos to grow their own food and not rely on imports due to the 2019 coronavirus disease (Covid-19) crisis.

Piōol notes that as a rich agricultural country, the Philippines should invest more in local food production rather than importing food, especially rice.

He suggests reviewing policies on agriculture and fisheries investments, citing the need for more irrigation facilities, research and development programs, and support for fertilization and credit.

Piōol also calls on Mindanaoan leaders to ease President Duterte's burden by boosting agricultural production and supporting relief operations through MinDA's Self-Sustaining Food Security Strategy (SSFSS).

He encourages local governments to loosen guidelines so farmers and fishermen can continue working, use calamity funds or realign budgets to support food production, and distribute excess produce to constituents.