Oriental mindoro: In line with the directives of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the Department of Agriculture (DA) on Monday launched major programs in Oriental Mindoro to support Filipino farmers and further enhance local production.

According to Philippines News Agency, these initiatives include the launch of the PHP33.5-million Oriental Mindoro Trading and Consolidation Facility (OMTCF) and the Provincial Agriculture Center (PAC). Additionally, the PHP20 per kilogram rice program under the Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) Na program has been expanded.

'This is how you raise farmer incomes - not by telling them to plant more, but by making sure what they harvest actually reaches the market at the right price,' Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. stated. The 966.75-square-meter OMTCF, funded under the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP), will serve as a centralized hub for consolidation, trading, and distribution featuring trading stalls, storage areas, and various facilities to ensure efficient movement from farmers to buyers.

The PAC will provide agricultural incubation and market linkage services to support the OMTCF in responding to market demands. Developed under the Climate-Resilient and Inclusive Green Growth Program, these facilities aim to reduce post-production losses and raise local food producers' income, contributing to the government's food security goals.

The DA has also expanded the BBM Na program to reach more households in Oriental Mindoro. DA Assistant Secretary Genevieve Velicaria-Guevarra noted that the province is well-positioned for this program's intensified expansion, with sufficient palay stocks in NFA warehouses. The DA anticipates that the BBM Na program will benefit 70,000 households in Mindoro.