Robredo-Pangilinan tandem plans to double agriculture budget听听
THE AGRICULTURE department鈥檚 budget听will be doubled听should Vice President听Maria Leonor听鈥淟eni鈥澨鼼. Robredo听win as president in next year鈥檚 election, her running mate said on Tuesday.听听听
The plan is听to increase听the听Department of Agriculture鈥檚 annual allocation听over听a period of six years听from about 2% to 4%听of the total national budget听by the end of 2028, Senator Francis N. Pangilinan, who is running for vice president,听told an online听forum.听听听
鈥淚t is time to fix the insecurity of our fellowmen in talks of food,鈥澨齅r. Pangilinan said in Filipino.听听
The听Bureau of听Fisheries and听Aquatic听Resources听(BFAR), he added, will also be taken out of the department听and听placed听under the听president鈥檚听office with a Cabinet-level听secretary in charge听in preparation for its conversion into a separate department.听听听听
The vision is to become an “aqua-culture giant of the world,鈥澨齢e said.听听听
Meanwhile, Ms. Robredo said her camp will create a people-led council to unify the efforts of various civic groups campaigning for her presidential bid in next year鈥檚 polls.听听听
In a taped message aired on Tuesday, Ms. Robredo said a so-called听鈥淧eople’s Council鈥澨齱ould consolidate efforts from different sectors and provinces for听鈥渁 clear and organized movement.鈥澨听
Ms. Robredo made the statement after she viewed some of the campaign materials created by her supporters from different groups and provinces听听
The people鈥檚 council will also prevent the duplication of campaign programs initiated by her volunteers, she added.听鈥斕鼳lyssa Nicole O. Tan听and听Kyle听Aristophere听T.听Atienza听
