Fiscal measures will be carried out by the government in preparation for the approaching "strong" heat brought by the El Nino in 2024.
In a media interview, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said there are some other strategies concerning the fiscal measures that the government might undertake.
“We are doing an analysis now of world prices of food to see what would be the appropriate tariff level, what will be the appropriate fiscal measures that we can undertake, at what level do we do this, how much, what percentage, all of these. Pinag-aaralan natin ngayon ‘yan and that will also become part of the effort,” Marcos said right after attending inauguration of an irrigation project in Nueva Ecija.
Aside from this, he said that a task force will be established next week where data from concerning agencies will be put together, adding that the government is still working on the structure of the task force.
The Chief Executive said the biggest determinant of production levels is irrigation. He said that with a better water source, farmers could increase the number of cropping seasons to three, which could increase production immediately by 30 percent.
“So, that’s what we are hoping will be the effect of that. But that is part of the general effort of the DA and of the government to increase our production," Marcos said.
"It just so happens that that is also what we need to do so that we can secure our rice supply and our food supply,” he added.
However, when it comes to agriculture, Marcos stated that irrigation is the primary factor that determines production levels. He added that farmers might prolong cropping seasons to three by using better water sources, which would immediately enhance production by thirty percent.
“So, that’s what we are hoping will be the effect of that. But that is part of the general effort of the DA and of the government to increase our production. It just so happens that that is also what we need to do so that we can secure our rice supply and our food supply,” he said.
By early next year, Marcos said that the government will begin to disseminate information and let people know its plans and actions.
