Simplifying governance COUNTRY SHOULD HAVE A FARMER AS PRESIDENT

By Manny Piñol

Call it wishful thinking or even a ridiculous idea, but unless Filipinos choose a farmer as President, the Philippines will never attain an inclusive national development whose benefits will be felt by everyone.

I am not trying to paint a rustic image of a farmer with his plough and carabao in Malacañang but a leader who has a deep understanding of agriculture and rural development.

The country already had a revolutionary, a mechanic, a lawyer, a housewife, a retired general, a movie actor, an economist, and now a President’s son as President but until today, the country still ranks among the poorest in the world.

The poverty statistics show that the agriculture sector, especially food production, has largely been neglected by the national government.

While only 6 out of every 100 families live below the poverty line in Metro Manila, as much as 40 families out of every 100 in the rural areas are very poor.

The countryside is a virtual goldmine because Philippine soil is so fertile that one Israeli agriculture expert once said: “Give me Mindanao and I will feed the world.”

It may sound like an exaggeration but knowing how the Israelis relied on their agriculture in the deserts to propel their country to prosperity, there is a certain degree of truth to the claim.

Unlike Israel, the Philippine government has forgotten that its primordial duty is to produce food for its population.

Producing food in the countryside means jobs for the people and income opportunities for the farming sector.

It is totally insane that until today, the Philippines still imports onions, garlic, pork, beef, chicken and even rice when the Filipino farmers, with substantial support from government, could very well produce these commodities.

Only a President who thinks like a farmer would understand that for the agriculture sector to be revitalised, government must draw a clear guide map.

Until today, farming is still a guessing game for the Filipino farmer. More often than not, he falls victim to the enticing stories about crops which would supposedly make him rich.

Remember the Ramie? The Gmelina? And recently the Jatropha? All of these were costly agricultural experiments.

In my conversations with Davao City Mayor Rody Duterte, when I was convincing him to consider the Presidency, he agreed that the next President would have to ensure “Available and Affordable Food” for the Filipino.

We talked about drawing up a market-oriented agriculture for the Philippines where the farmers will be guided by what the Filipino households would consume.

We talked about stopping the imports of pork, beef, chicken and other agricultural products and assisting the Filipino farmers in producing these.

This mindset may just look like a simplistic approach to an inclusive national growth and development.

It is not.

A vibrant agriculture sector which would climb up to the level of agro-industrialisation would create jobs and draw people to the countryside thus decongesting the big cities where job seekers flock to.

A market-oriented farming would stabilise food supply thus providing the Filipino family with affordable food thus stretching his monthly budget and allowing him to spend his money on education.

A countryside of prosperous families would mean greater buying power which would invigorate trading and commerce thus boost business.

A fully developed agricultural Philippines could supply the food requirements of Hong Kong, China, Japan and Singapore, which are the most accessible markets for our farm products.

The Philippines needs a Farmer President to understand this.

This is the reason why I was so passionate in convincing Duterte to run for President. While he is a lawyer by profession, his 23-year-stint as leader of an agricultural area has given him a profound understanding of agriculture and its importance in an inclusive national growth and development.

In the gallery of Presidential candidates today – Manuel A. Roxas III, Jejomar Binay and Grace Poe – I see nobody who understands Philippine agriculture better than Duterte.

Roxas talks of an expanded Daang Matuwid, Binay brags about “Ganito Kami sa Makati” while Poe dreams of a “Bagong Umaga.”

Duterte talks about “Available and Affordable Food,” a total overhaul of the government system and in fighting crime, drugs and corruption.

Everything is not lost yet. There is still a tiny window of hope.

Duterte could still be the first Farmer President of the Philippines.

(Photo of a young Filipino farmer on a carabao downloaded from corbisimages.com)