This was expressed by Alejandro Escaño, president of the Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food, Inc. (PCAFI), an umbrella group of major sectoral and industry associations in the food and agriculture sectors.
Escaño indicated that PCAFI will support the President‘s program for creating one million jobs in the agriculture and rural sectors. He said there are idle and under-utilized lands that can be developed for corn, cassava, oil palm, coffee, peanut and other crops.
On the average, one hectare of land land will generate one job and more for high value vegetables. Escaño opined that given GMA’s target, this could mean half a million direct jobs and another half a million indirect jobs generated through the multiplier process.
Escaño added that poverty alleviation is good business as it creates purchasing power for goods and services. He feels confident that GMA will deliver the goods provided the nation pulls together behind her presidency. Escaño also called on other parties to craft legislations that will address mass poverty in the countryside.