THE Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) have forged a partnership to boost food production and modernize agriculture.

In a statement on Sunday, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said that the two agencies specifically discussed how shipping companies can allocate 25 percent of cargo space for agricultural products and ensure discounted freight rates to maintain affordable food prices.

"We will monitor this to ensure that they are strictly implemented," said Laurel.

Based on a Department Order No. 7, series of 2020 issued by the Department of Transportation (DoTr), "all domestic shipping lines are enjoined to allocate a percentage of cargo space every voyage exclusively to agricultural and food products and to charge preferential rates on such agricultural and food products."

Laurel added that they will meet again with PPA officials to ensure its strict implementation. The PPA is an agency under the DoTr.

The planned meeting between DA and PPA will be held in relation to complaints from highland vegetable farmers and traders on the transport of agricultural products, both by land and sea, that was discussed during a town hall meeting with the Agriculture chief at Benguet Agri-Pinoy Trading Center (BAPTC) in Benguet.

Meanwhile, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Laurel on Saturday met farmers, local government leaders, and officials of the DA Regional office in Pampanga to strengthen thrusts for agricultural modernization and increased food production amid the El Niño threat.

President Marcos said that the government will distribute more solar-powered irrigation systems to help provide a steady supply of water to an additional 180,000 hectares of rice land, which should translate to 1.2 million metric tons of palay (unmilled rice) production. This will help reduce the importation of rice by the country.