Action star Robin Padilla to help promote agriculture

MANILA -- Action star Robin Padilla on Monday volunteered to help the Department of Agriculture (DA) in its promotions and marketing programs to help farmers and fisherfolk generate more income.

On the sidelines of the launching of the Metro Marketing Program for Philippine mangoes at the DA office in Quezon City, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol said Padilla has volunteered to host a television show, which will also be shown in social media, that will tackle the benefits and profits of farming and fishing.

"On behalf of our farmers and fisherfolk, I would like to thank Robin Padilla for his 'selfless' offer to help in promoting Philippine agricultural products," he said.

The TV show is expected to start this month.

Padilla, for his part, said he also plans to develop a five-hectare farm he owns in Barangay Nueva Vida in M'lang, North Cotabato into a model farm which will also serve as a rehabilitation center for former drug dependents.

He also urged the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to be agri-entrepreneurs.

"I am encouraging our OFWs to be agri-entrepreneurs. Hindi naman habang buhay na magtatrabaho sila abroad. Dapat matuto sila magtayo ng negosyo dito sa Pilipinas. Pinakamaganda ay ang agribusiness, di pwedeng malugi sa pagkain," he said.

Meanwhile, Piñol said some 15 metric tons of fresh mangoes coming from Luzon, including a few hundred kilos from Mindanao, were snapped up by consumers at the opening day of the Metro Mango Marketing Program in several areas in Metro Manila today.

Fresh mangoes are being sold from PHP20 to PHP50 per kilo, depending on the quality in the following places:

-- Department of Agriculture Central Office, Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City;

-- Bureau of Plant and Industry, Malate, Manila;

-- Muntinlupa City Hall;

-- Paranaque City Hall;

-- Walter Mart North Edsa, Quezon City;

-- Walter Mart Makati City; and

-- Walter Mart Pasay City. (PNA)