The Dream Never Dies! Tough, Lonely Journey To Food Self-Sufficiency

Looking at our woman workers in the farm cleaning our Soybeans seeds yesterday gave me a mixed feeling of joy and sadness.
I felt happy because from just about 50 kilos of old seeds from Caraga Region, our seed production could now cover at least 400 hectares in our 3rd cycle.
But I also felt sad realizing how important crops like Soybeans, Sorgum, Garlic and Onion had been neglected by government for ages.
The reasons?
The unfounded belief that these crops will not grow in the country, that there is no market and that it is easier to just import.
So now, we do our Soybeans seed selection using “Bilao” instead of seeds color sorter and we use rice thresher for our grains instead of modern equipment.
The advocacy to promote the idea that the Philippines could be self-sufficient in food is a tough and lonely journey.
When, as Secretary of Agriculture, I said that the country could be rice sufficient, I was derided and called “mahangin.”
In spite of the ridicule, the country posted its historic highest harvest of rice of 19.28-million metric tons in 2017.
This was, however, downplayed and the Economic Managers prevailed in convincing the political leadership that the easiest way to achieve rice supply sufficiency was through importation.
That move made through the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) slayed the dreamed rice self-sufficiency.
I left the Department of Agriculture with a heavy heart, sad that I was not able to realize my dream of at least building the foundations of a food self-sufficient country.
But I have not given up on my dreams even outside of government.
Today, my targets are more precise – just a few crops that are inter-related – Soybeans, Sorghum, Garlic, Onion and high value fruit trees.
With the help and support of private companies I am affiliated with, Southseas Agri-Aqua Ventures, Inc. for Sorghum and Freshwater Fish Hatchery, and Vetmate Farma Corp. for Soybeans, Onion and Garlic, I am pursuing the advocacy for a self-sufficient country.
The journey had been tough and lonely but I face this challenge with a brave heart.
The thought that our trailblazing efforts now could boost the country’s food supplies inspires me no end.

#KungGustoMaramingParaan!
#GovernanceIsCommonSense!