Palawan eyes agriculture as new viable ‘economic driver’

The Provincial Government of Palawan has announced that it is considering the agriculture sector as a new alternative economic driver in lieu of tourism that is now heavily affected by the advent of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

As part of the fight against the pandemic disease, the national government put the entire Luzon, including the Mimaropa Region, under the enhanced community quarantine since March 17 and was extended until April 30 that halted all the tourism-related activities.

But until now, even the Province of Palawan was classified under the general community quarantine (GCQ) category that will take effect on the first day of May, operations in airports and seaports are still limited for the movement of foods and cargoes. Capitol also announced that the province still closes its doors until May 30.

Provincial Information Officer (PIO) Winston Arzaga, in the recent interview of Palawan Daily’s online radio magazine “Chris ng Bayan,” said that as part of the Recovery Plan or in the post COVID-19-recovery preparation of the province, the government is planning to strengthen the agriculture sector.

“Sa…pini-prepare ng Provincial Government, ay palakasin po natin ang sektor ng agrikutura at pangisda sapagkat, ‘yun lang po sa ngayon ang nakikita ng Provincial Government na viable na alternative sa turismo; sapagkat ang number one economic driver natin [sa Palawan] is tourism but since wala pang in flights na darating sa atin, kaya babalik at babalik tayo sa sektor ng agrikultura bilang economic driver natin,” Arzaga pointed out.

The Provincial Government, PIO Arzaga added, is ready to help the Palaweno farmers in order to increase their harvest.

He said that the leaders of Palawan are happy with the decision of AITF-EID in downgrading the category of Palawan into GCQ because the agriculture sector such as farming, fishing and the like are allowed to resume starting May 1.

“Ito po ‘yung mga sektor na sa tingin ko ay dapat na mabuksan agad and very good naman kasi  ang mga sector na ‘yan na nabanggit ay nabuksan na, except sa construction kasi hinihintay pa ang guidelines s from DPWH,” he said.