Wednesday, April 16, 2008 Palace wants Pampanga's agri potential maximized
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Malacañang has called upon local government officials here to maximize Pampanga's potential to further improve the agricultural situation in the province.
Lorelei Fajardo, deputy presidential spokesperson, relayed the message during the Agribusiness Investment Summit held at the Benigno Aquino Hall in Capitol Grounds last Monday.
The summit was conducted for the benefit of the farmers and agricultural workers in Pampanga and the rest of Central Luzon, as earlier directed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Leaders and representatives attended from various sectors attended the summit.
It was Fajardo who had coordinated with Department of Agriculture and other line agencies for the realization of the summit. In order to make the summit successful, it was agreed upon that provincial caravans be conducted in the seven provinces of Central Luzon to consult local government officials, farmers and fisher folk organizations and businessmen.
One of the summit's goals is to prepare the human resources to cope with the rapid economic and infrastructural development in the region and maximize its competitive advantage.
Ultimately, its main objective is to get the different sectors of the community, the farmers and fisher folk, businessmen, the local government units (LGUs) and the National Government in working together towards economic development of the region, making its agribusiness products globally competitive.
"One of our output requirements to meet the plans for agricultural development would be memorandum of agreement between farmers and the businessmen because we are creating the market for them," Fajardo said, stressing that there is also a need to prioritize the welfare of farmers.
She also urged the officials to come up with plans to further improve the business atmosphere in the agricultural sector.
Discussed during the event were the potentials of the province in terms of agribusiness, various programs on livestock and farm developments as well as addressing concerns of sectors affected by adverse situations brought about by soaring market prices and calamities.
"We must come out with output so that we could tangibly work on results," Fajardo said. (IOF)
