MANILA Mayor Francisco ‘Isko Moreno’ Domagoso unveiled his medium and long-term plans in boosting the Philippine agricultural sector should he become the next president of the country.

Domagoso said adopting a different planning approach for the sector will pave the way for certainty among farmers and fisher folks.

“High time naman na ‘yung mga ahensiya ng gobyerno makapagplano ng dire-diretso because ang funding nila garantisado. It’s a 5-year plan and 10-year plan. ‘Di tayo year on year lang magpaplano,” he said during a dialogue with agriculture advocates at the Manila City Hall.

The mayor pointed out investors will further support agriculture programs if plans will be firm.

“Magkakaroon ng kapanstagan ‘yung mga magsasaka at ‘yung mga mangingisda sa industriya ng agrikultura in the next 5 years or in the next 10 years. Ito ‘yung pupuntahan kong journey. ‘Di na siya aasa na every year, hihingi ng pondo o magla-lobby ng pondo,” he explained.

Earlier, Domagoso pledged to support the construction of agricultural infrastructure, temper rice imports through stringent regulations on crop quality, initiate a widespread crackdown on smuggling, and impose a two-to-three-year moratorium on land conversion.

He also stressed the national government should prioritize food security.

“I think this pandemic taught us a very good lesson on how we should give much attention to food security. And it’s high time for us na magising ang liderato ng mga ahensya ng gobyerno na pagtuunan ito ng pansin,” he said.