Brian Poe, First Nominee of the FPJ Panday Bayanihan Partylist, emphasized the importance of empowering Filipino youth in agriculture during the 5th National Summit and Year-End Assessment last November 29 at Swiss Bel Hotel Blue Lane in Manila.
"With a growing youth population in the country, the agriculture sector offers a great potential for generating youth employment and business opportunities," Poe stated.
Poe shared Binhi ng Pag-Asa Program (BPP), in partnership with the Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Training Institute (DA-ATI), has successfully equipped young farmers with leadership skills, agricultural knowledge and starter kits.
A total of 100 youth beneficiaries from the provinces of Tarlac, Laguna, and Oriental Mindoro gathered for the event. Present at the summit were Assistant Central Director Antonieta Arceo and the regional directors from Regions 3, 4-A and 4-B.
Youth participants, including Nahum Cupiado from Oriental Mindoro, emphasized the economic and environmental benefits of agriculture.
"Bilang kabataan, ang pangarap ko hindi lamang para sa akin kundi sa kapwa ko. Sana maisulong pa ang agrikultura para kumita. At the same time, pang-konsumo na rin para ma-boost ang economy natin. Pino-promote ko rin ang paggamit ng organic para maprotektahan ang environment natin," Cupiado said.
Carl Glen Caballero from Tarlac highlighted agriculture's financial security and future prospects.
"Gusto kong maipakita sa kanila na may financial security at future ang agriculture, hindi lamang para sa retirement at sa mga matatatanda, kundi ito na po ang kinabukasan ng mamamayang Pilipino na mas lumago ang kabuhayan sa pamamagitan ng agrikultura," said Caballero.
Ana Velasco credited the BPP program for broadening her agricultural knowledge and leadership skills saying, "Malaki ang naitulong sa akin ng Binhi ng Pag-asa Program. Natulungan po ako nitong mapalawak ang kaalaman ko sa agrikultura, mas ma-involve pa sa mga gawaing pang-agrikultura, at makatulong maging isang kabataang lider."
