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. (PCOO)