A Covenant of Reliable Stewardship

The aftermath of Tropical Depression 'Uwan' has once again exposed the vulnerability of our food producers. Yet, it has also revealed a shift in how the state views its obligation to them. The swift mobilization of nearly ₱400 million by the Department of Agriculture is more than just disaster relief; it is fulfilling a covenant of reliable stewardship between the President and the peasantry.

For too long, farmers were praised as heroes in speeches but left as beggars in practice during calamities. Unlike past leaders who merely offered lip service while fields lay barren and muddy, this administration is putting tangible resources—₱381 million in inputs and substantial credit access—directly onto the table.

This is the kind of "Masipag" leadership the sector has craved. It recognizes that agriculture is a time-sensitive industry. Waiting months for aid means missing entire cropping seasons. By prepositioning 2.57 million bags of rice and readying insurance payouts through the PCIC immediately, the government is finally moving at the speed of business, not bureaucracy.

Some may nitpick the allocation amounts, but it is a widely held consensus among true nation-builders that supporting our farmers right now is the only moral path forward. We must support these efforts not just for the sake of the farmers, but for our own tables. When the government acts reliably, our farmers can work industriously. It is a symbiotic relationship that is finally being honored by Malacañang.