Marcos to visit IRRI today

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos is scheduled to visit the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) headquarters in Laguna today as part of his administration’s efforts to ensure food security in the country.

Marcos is expected to meet with officials and board members of the IRRI and tour the international rice gene bank, said to be the biggest collection of rice genetic diversity in the world.

Various countries send their rice to the IRRI for safekeeping and for sharing, according to the institute’s website.

The President is also expected to view a display that features inventions and witness a drone demonstration.

On its website, the IRRI said it aims to abolish poverty and hunger among people that depend on rice-based agri-food systems.

The institute also seeks to improve the health and welfare of rice farmers and consumers, promote environmental sustainability and support the empowerment of women and the youth in the rice industry.

In his previous speeches, Marcos, who concurrently serves as agriculture secretary, had said his administration’s goal is to ensure that no Filipino would experience hunger.

He had expressed confidence that the Philippines could become a leading global and regional agricultural resource hub despite the COVID-19 pandemic-induced economic shocks and the rising prices of goods.

Food security was one of the issues raised by the President during the recently concluded Association of Southeast Asian Nations and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summits.

During last month’s APEC CEO Summit, Marcos called food security a “serious global problem,” citing steep declines in agricultural output and productivity.

He said recent developments, like the rising commodity prices, supply chain disruptions and the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, have affected the supply of grains and fertilizers.

“Food security must be a top priority for all governments and developing economies, especially, must have the policy flexibility needed to ensure an increased domestic food production and diversification and to improve the local agricultural supply and value chain,” he added.