We laud new NEDA Chief's focus on agri to address poverty

As Senate Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture and Food, we laud the pronouncement of new Director General of the National Economic Development Authority Arsenio Balisacan that his focus will be on the agriculture sector in addressing sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction. For us to reach the level of economic growth similar to our ASEAN neighbors like Thailand and Malaysia, there is no other way to do so but to invest in agriculture modernization and development. Half the nation’s population live in rural areas where agriculture and fisheries is the primary source of income.

 When we up the incomes of the rural folk, the multiplier effect on the rest of the economy will be tremendous.