125th Founding Anniversary of the Department of Agriculture 6/20/2023

Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City
June 20, 2023

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. recognized the officials and employees of the Department of Agriculture (DA), as well as its attached bureaus and agencies, for their dedication in serving the Department that enabled it to attain many milestones and brought positive impact on the lives of farmers, fisherfolk and the Filipino people.

“With your help, we harnessed the transformative potential of the agricultural sector in ensuring food sustainability, generating employment opportunities, mitigating poverty in the country. Agriculture is and will always be an important contributor to our national economy. In the first quarter of 2023, the sector grew by 2.2%, contributing 9.1% to our total gross domestic product,” the President said in his keynote message as he led the DA’s 125th founding anniversary celebration on June 20, 2023.

As concurrent Agriculture Secretary, he enjoined his fellow officials to exert efforts in addressing the challenges affecting the Department’s performance, such as decreasing productivity, climate change, diminishing natural resources and evolving consumer preferences.

“Let us continue to engage in collaborative dialogue with experts, researchers and rural workers to solve the roots of the lingering problems. Learn and adopt climate resilient and cutting-edge agricultural technologies so that we can be prepared for prospective contingencies,” he emphasized.

The Chief Executive urged the DA to continue championing the well-being of farmers, fisherfolk and rural communities to further boost their income, promote agricultural productivity and resilience while maintaining environmental sustainability, advance agri-fishery practices and improve competitiveness of agri-fishery products, and nurture inclusivity and pride in the noble work of feeding the Filipino people.

Prior to the main program, President Marcos Jr. inspected the Kadiwa ng Pangulo site inside the DA Compound.

The Department of Agriculture was formed 11 days after the proclamation of Philippine Independence on 12 June 1898. Today’s 125th founding anniversary carries the theme, ‘Kagawaran ng Agrikultura: 125 Taong Naglilingkod Tungo sa Masaganang Agrikultura at Maunlad na Ekonomiya’.

* *

Connect with RTVM

Website: http://rtvm.gov.ph
Facebook: www.facebook.com/presidentialcom and www.facebook.com/rtvmalacanang
Twitter: @RTVMalacanang
YouTube: @RTVMalacanang
Tiktok: @RTVMalacanang