DAVAO CITY – President Rodrigo Roa Duterte graced the launching of TienDA Farmers and Fisherfolks Outlets, a partnership project between the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Ayala Malls, at the Asian Food Market in Abreeza Mall Davao on Saturday, November 18, 2017.
“I hope that the TienDA Farmers and Fisherfolk Outlet will open doors of greater opportunities for our kababayans towards a better and brighter future,” President Duterte said in his speech.
President Duterte said that while the local agriculture industry still thrives amid the entry of similar imported products, he encouraged the Filipinos to patronize local products to help keep the industry afloat.
“Well, at the expense of the disers, 'yung mga middle men, that's not how it is because we are trying to come up with our decision to, I said, provide the people affordable and always, their food for all,” President Duterte explained, adding that the imports and exports have to be balanced with the trade all over the world.
“We have to compete, that is why production is the secret. So ang production mo, pareho sa kanila then they have to choose,” the President said.
“The thing there is maintain the supply para pareho mura. Then kung ikaw Pilipino, kung pareho 'yung ano mo, 'di sa Pilipino ka na bumili. Makatulong ka pa,” he added.
President Duterte also thanked the Ayalas for their social and corporate conscience to help the Filipino people.
“Anyway, sila man din 'yung prime movers talaga ng ating gobyerno and it would be good if they would accommodate us, bagsakan libre. And they will buy your products diretso. Wala na 'yung diser,” he said.
The President also reiterated his promise to eradicate corruption in his administration.
The President warned that he will fire government officials who went on unofficial trips and unauthorized or unimportant meetings using public funds.
“All those guys who have been using money of the government, just easily going in and out of travel upon the invitation of maski sinong mga seminar-seminar and they are easy really just to, some of them without getting a permit and wasting the money of the people, I have to ask them to resign,” Duterte said.
“If at all, kung gusto ko man, kokonti lang and those important meeting. But like just ‘yung basta na lang na there’s a seminar about whatever --- about farming, about corruption, about business, eh hindi natin pera ‘yan eh,” he said. ### (PND)
