Trump Presidency Boon To Philippine Agriculture

As early turn-out and polling numbers point to a Donald Trump return to the White House next year, I am excited with the thought that Philippine Agriculture could stand to benefit from this political development in the United States.
It was during Trump’s Presidency when Philippine Agriculture achieved two very important milestones – the approval by the US Department of Agriculture of the export of young coconuts from the Philippines and a P1.5-B grand fund for the Dairy Goat Upgrading Program under PL 480.
The negotiations to export young coconuts to the US had dragged for years until I personally went to Washington as Secretary of Agriculture in 2018 and talked with top officials of the USDA and negotiated for the approval of the Sanitary and Python-Sanitary Protocols.
Unfortunately, when I left the DA to move to the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), there were no follow through measures to start the export of Green Coconuts to the US in spite of the interest by Filipino-American supermarkets like Island Pacific.
The P1.5-B grant fund for the Diary Goat Program under PL 480 was stuck in the Bureau of Treasury for years because it needed a US government approval to utilize the money.
During his visit to the Philippines in 2017, I had the rare opportunity to briefly inform President Trump of the program during the reception lfor world leaders attending the Gala Dinner tendered by President Rody Duterte
“Mr. President, we are implementing a Dairy Goat Develooment using P1.5-B from your government,” I told Pres. Trump.
“Hows that?,” he asked.
I told him that the funds will be used to buy outstanding dairy goat breeding materials from American farmers to improve the dairy goat breeds in the Philippines.
I said it would help both American and Filipino farmers.
Upon hearing the explanation, President Trump said: “I love that! Let’s do it!”
While he is a billionaire businessman from New York, President Trump has a deeper understanding of the importance of Agriculture for his country and ours.
The Province of North Cotabato which is one of the major producers of aromatic and sweet water Coconut stands to benefit from the pro-Agriculture US Administration under President Trump.
#LoomingOpportunities!
#KungGustoMaramingParaan!