Revolution Vs Revelation! More Funds & More Freedom To Develop PH Countryside?

“Agri Liberation” is the latest battle cry. Turns out historical & hysterical. I googled “agri liberation images” (note double quotes), and the above images happened right next to each other: How lucky can you get?! Local vs international, Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) vs Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. What colorful “combination” – and neither do I agree with!

“Revolution” showing itself next to “Liberation” – Actually, the quarrel has been there at least in the last 60 years when PH activists began agitating for “Land for the Landless” and those with money began agitating for more business inside and outside the Philippines.

If you did not know, PH’s Agrarian Revolution is actually ongoing – slow but ongoing. In any case, land ownership has shown itself to be anathemato production and profit. Because of inefficiencies, ownership liberation limits production of the farmer and, therefore, of the country; and business liberation limits profit to the businessman himself. What other inefficiencies do the revolutionaries want?!

In the latest development, Madelaine B Miraflor says, “At Least 7 Industry Groups Call For Agri Liberalization[1]” (25 May 2021, Manila Bulletin). The 7 groups are “led” (verb noted) by the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (AmCham) and Cold Chain Association of the Philippines (CCAP). AmCham and CCAP are saying that this is for PH Agriculture to “become more open to foreign trade and investments to help keep food affordable and safe to all Filipinos” and this “will also strengthen the agriculture sector’s capability of creating jobs for the rural population.”

Not quite. If you ask me, it is not the lack of foreign trade and investments that has made food unaffordable and unsafe in the Philippines – it is the supply of unscrupulous big & small businessmen already existing who victimize their own countrymen in these difficult times.

I see that this is all because the Department of Agriculture (DA), led by Secretary of Agriculture William Dar, has called for controlled entry of food imports. 

More than the above, I see that “Agri Liberalization” is targeted toward food only and, of course, the food industry stands to largely benefit.

In a development I see must be related, Belen Natividad says “CAR, Ilocos Ready To Implement Mandanas Ruling[2]” (24 May 2021, Ikot.ph). Much earlier, Anna Leah E Gonzales says, “LGUs Must Prepare For New Responsibilities – Dominguez[3]” (06 October 2020, Manila Times). Ms Anna says that once implemented, the Mandanas ruling of the Supreme Court will result in “higher internal revenue allotment (IRA) (shares) of local government units (LGUs) beginning in 2022.”

Now then, I see that, on one hand the businessmen, and on the other hand the LGUs with larger IRAs, must first of all consider and cooperate with the “OneDA” approach for Philippine Agriculture already being implemented – if they don’t know that, let them google! They cannot insist on their own views without those of others, especially the ones in government authority. Ladies & gentlemen, the Philippines is our country too!@517


[1]https://mb.com.ph/2021/05/25/at-least-7-industry-groups-call-for-agri-liberalization/?fbclid=IwAR111XXv2vS-wmkPog2PJKhUN2cTdRRhr0axmD0_dEXEALvZXBYyPlkYi5Q

[2]https://www.ikot.ph/car-ilocos-ready-to-implement-mandanas-ruling/?fbclid=IwAR2PVxgXDqYd80-06Z1Ll8jEDzwgeIwbMr0faxJcwbLvTh3CHIrYS1Z-WhU

[3]https://www.manilatimes.net/2020/10/06/business/business-top/lgus-must-prepare-for-new-responsibilities-e28095-dominguez/776898

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