National Security Adviser-Designate Prof. Clarita Carlos brings in a breeze hope for the country’s farmers and fishermen as she clearly defined a new perspective in National Security which would now include Food Security.
Yesterday, I saw a video clip of the interview made by Anthony “Ka Tunying” Taberna with Sec. Carlos where she categorically stated that National Security concerns should cover not only territorial, insurgency and internal threats but also Environmental, Water, Food and Human Security.
These pronouncements by the incoming National Security Adviser reassures the country that the vision of President-elect Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. of a food sufficient and food secure Philippines would now be translated into a readable and doable road map.
In the past, I had repeatedly stated that unless and until our country’s leaders include Food Security as part of our National Security Strategy, we will face the danger of food insufficiency in times of calamity and disaster.
The Philippines could be Rice Sufficient and all that is needed are practical interventions – Solar-Powered Irrigation to cover another 1-million hectares, use of high-yielding seeds, support for farm inputs and buying price profitable for the farmers.
There is no need to import fish because it was shown during the first three years of the Duterte Presidency that a sustainable and well-crafted National Fisheries Program improved the sector’s performance from years of negative growth to the first ever positive growth in nearly half a century in 2018.
To achieve Fish Sufficiency, the focus should be on Aquaculture and Mariculture, rather than Capture Fishing. With 5,000 more fish cages, there is no need to import.
The livestock, poultry and vegetable sectors could very well supply our needs with enabling policies which would support local producers rather than reliance on importation.
Alam ko, may magsasabi na naman “Naging Secretary ka ng Agriculture, bakit hindi mo ginawa?”
Actually, we did it which is precisely the reason why I am adamant in my position that the Philippines could be Food Self-Sufficient and could even become a net food exporter with the needed support and enabling policies.
Proof?
In 2017, even with very little financial support, rice production increased from 17.6-million metric tons in 2016 to 19.28-million metric tons and 19.05-MMT in 2018, owing mainly to the increased use of Hybrid and High-Yielding seeds and good farm gate price.
Blessed with favorable climate, Philippine Agriculture grew by 3.95% in 2017 and even with so many typhoons in 2018, eked out a positive growth of 0.5%.
Thee accomplishments, however, were ignored or even belittled by the Economic Managers led by Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez.
They were not happy with Agriculture’s performance and were so obsessed with lowering the inflation numbers which they said ticked up because of high prices of rice and other food commodities.
That was when they rammed through with the idea of Rice Import Liberalization and opening up the market for imported pork, chicken and others at very low tariff rates.
What’s done is done. We just have to look forward and hope that things will be different under the new administration.
The appointment of Professor Carlos as National Security Adviser, along with that of National Economic and Development Authority Secretary Arsenio Balisacan offers a ray of hope for the Agriculture Sector.
I am not very comfortable with the appointment of Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno because of his previous pronouncements when he was Budget Secretary that Agriculture is a sunset industry.
With the pro-Agriculture and Food Security pronouncements of President-elect Marcos Jr., however, I believe Diokno will toe the line and provide the needed support for Agriculture and Fisheries.
(Credit for this video clip goes to Anthony “Ka Tunying” Taberna. Salamat po.)
More Stories
Please Check Out mannypinol.com
21-Year-Old Cotabato Airport: Sad Story Of Childish Politics
Banisilan District Hospital: Victim Of Childish Politics