Fighting corruption gradually
While fighting corruption by the government in a large, systematic way is commendable, the private sector’s contribution in a smaller, gradual way is equally important. This has been shown at the Department of Agriculture (DA). It should be replicated in other areas.
Mangroves matter
With the need for protection against climate change and more livelihoods to alleviate our poverty, mangroves significantly matter. They should now get much more support from both the government and the private sector.
2026: Listen, act, pray
To achieve significant agricultural development next year, we should listen, act and pray. Both the government and the private sector should do these. These recommendations are motivated by a description of the first Christmas, which quoted largely from Bishop Fulton Sheen.
Agriculture: 2025 performance and 2026 recommendations
As the year ends, we consider the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) 2025 performance in its domestic, international and governance areas. This may suggest directions for a better 2026.
From flood control to farm-to-market roads
There is corruption not just in flood control projects, but also in farm-to-market roads (FMRs). Last Dec. 17, the Philippine Daily Inquirer headline was: “More provisions in DPWH, DA budgets questioned.” The Philippine Budget Coalition (PBC) identified “P149 billion worth of risky FMRs.”
Turning threat into opportunity for agriculture
Farmers, fisherfolk and agriculture stakeholders must turn today’s threat of continued corruption into an opportunity. Two events in the last few days indicate that this is the right time. The recent anticorruption demonstrations have created a climate where significant change is now possible. Last Dec. 9, President Marcos went beyond addressing symptoms to tackling the root of corruption.
Add action to anger for agriculture
Farmers, fisherfolk and agriculture stakeholders are angry. They are not stopping there and are taking decisive action. With the full support of Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., they are getting results. They have been joining the street protests against corruption. But their significant start in taking action started much earlier. It happened when the Senate was voting for the ratification of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) free trade agreement as early as 2022.
Barges are sometimes better than ships
When we think of transporting agricultural goods to a separate island, we think of ships. But in many cases, barges are far better in our archipelago, says Danilo Fausto, president of the Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food, Inc. (PCAFI).
Listen, correct contradictions and save our farmers
In the critical sector of rice, our government must immediately listen, correct its possible contradictions and save our rice farmers. They suffer today as never before.
Policy is more important than programs for progress
For significant sustainable development, we must realize that policies are more important than programs. This is especially important as we face our critical agricultural challenges today.
Agriculture: Exports, not imports
We must cut down on our agricultural imports. In addition, we must increase our agricultural exports. Otherwise, our agricultural development will be stymied. This past year, consider how agriculture has grown compared with other sectors. In the first quarter, it was the worst-performing. In the second quarter, it was the best.
Implementing the correct rice tariff
The government must immediately implement the correct rice tariff. This is especially important now, because our rice farmers are suffering more than ever before. At a palay production cost of P14 a kilo, the farm gate wet price is P11. The main cause is the 15 percent rice tariff that was decreased from 35 percent to 15 percent in July 2024.
Agriculture roadmaps: formulation and implementation
For our country, we must not only do things right (eliminate corruption). We must also do the right thing (increase competence). We should do this as we formulate and implement our agriculture roadmaps.
Congress must move on the damaging rice tariff
Because our rice farmers are suffering as never before due to the 15 percent rice tariff, Congress must now exercise its responsibility under our Constitution. It is Congress, not the executive branch, that has the primary responsibility over tariffs. Congress must now do its own analysis, restore immediately the 35 percent rice tariff, and decide what the correct rice tariff should be at this critical time.
Rice safeguards needed for survival
Since our rice industry is in a crisis, with our farmers losing their incomes as never before, the Department of Agriculture (DA) must now totally support the possibility of safeguards for our rice farmers’ survival. This will enable our farmers to once again earn an income as well as produce the rice we need for our own food security.
We must manage our water resources
We must manage our water resources, instead of our water managing us. Our Congress and the executive branch have not managed our water effectively. Our flood control budget significantly increased from only P73 billion in 2017 to P257 billion this year, with massive corruption prevalent.
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