Marcos says PH has had no agricultural policy for a long time

President Ferdinand ”Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said Monday that the Philippines lacks an agricultural policy as the sector has not been aided for quite some time.

Marcos said this during his engagement with the national grand winners of the 50th Gawad Saka: Parangal sa mga Natatanging Magsasaka at Mangingisda in a forum at the Science City of Muñoz in Nueva Ecija.

President Bongbong Marcos and Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. at the presentation of the 50th Gawad Saka National Awardees and Ugnayan with Farmers, June 30, 2025 at the Science City of Muñoz in Nueva Ecija. Screenshot from RTVM livestream

He said this was the reason why the youth was not engaged in farming activities, adding that they do not see a good career path in the agricultural sector.

”Medyo hindi natulungan ang agrikultura nang matagal eh. Wala tayong agricultural policy, masyado nang napakatagal. Kaya’t sasabihin ng mga bata, ‘Ba’t tayo papasok diyan, walang pupuntahan ‘yan, hanggang diyan na lang ‘yan.’ Kaya’t ngayon, babaguhin natin lahat ‘yan,” Marcos said.

(It seems that no help was extend in our agricultural sector. We haven’t had an agricultural policy for a long time. So, the youth will ask, ‘Why will we go into agriculture, there’s no future there.’ So we will change that.)

Marcos cited the need for modern technology to improve the agricultural sector, particularly the country’s yields. This will also attract the youth to engage in farming, he said.

”Kailangan natin pumasok sa mga bagong teknolohiya dahil ‘yun kailangan talaga natin para ‘yung bawat ektarya natin, mas malaki ang yield. Mas malaki ang ani,” Marcos said.

(We need to use modern technology because we really need that to improve our yield from every hectare. The harvest will be greater.)

Marcos said the youth would be the ones who will teach the other farmers in utilizing technology.

”Sila ang magtuturo sa atin ng mga bagong teknolohiya at ‘yan palagay ko ay magiging interesting na ‘yan para sa ating mga kabataan. Makikita nila na may magandang hanapbuhay naman ang magsasaka,” he said.

(They will teach us the modern technology and I think this will be interesting for the youth. They will see that there are job opportunities for farmers.)