Category: PCAFI

January 19, 2024

By Melody Mendoza Aguiba

The private sector has asked the Department of Agriculture (DA) to scrap the Minimum Access Volume (MAV) in poultry and pork imports while also ensuring that fees collected from the Safeguard Measures Act implementation be channeled for the competitiveness of the agriculture sector.

In a meeting last January 18 with DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, the Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc. (PCAFI) asserted the MAV has become useless as actual import volume for chicken, pork, and corn have ballooned many times more than the MAV.

“The volume of importation for chicken is more than 15 times the MAV.
Thus, our treaty commitment with the GATT-WTO shows that with this
condition, there is no longer need for a MAV,” said PCAFI President Danilo V. Fausto.

Philippines’ committed in 1995 to the General Agreement on Tariff and Trade-World Tade Organization (GATT-WTO) for an import volume of 23,500 metric tons (MT) for chicken with lower tariff of 40% under MAV.

Outside MAV, tariff commitment was at 50%. However, in 2005 tariff rate became equal for in and out of MAV volume.

Removing MAV will result in a “level playing field among importers and importers vis a vis local producers,” Fausto said.

PCAFI is concerned that farmgate price of chicken reported by the United Broilers and Raisers Association as of January 4 was P89.15 per kilo liveweight. This is way below production cost per kilo. For imported chicken, estimated cost was at P84.83 per kilo within MAV and P90.83 per kilo outside MAV.

On the other hand, retail price as per DA Bantay Presyo data on January 4 was at P170 to P180 per kilo.

In 2023, total chicken importation stood at 426,620 kilos. The same sitution is true for corn and pork where actual import volume far exceeds MAV.

In his Aide Memoire No. 2, Fausto also asked government to strictly enforce Section 34, Chapter 4 of the Safeguard Measures Act (Republic Act 8800) which was aimed at protecting local farmers from any surge in imports.

This mandates that fees and safeguard duties from the implementation of RA 8800 totalling to 50% be allocated for the competitiveness of the agriculture sector adversely affected by the surge in imports.

“RA 8800 was approved last July 19, 2000. Two decades have passed and
we have yet to see where the money collected under the law was allocated.
More particularly coffee, pork and chicken,” said Fausto.

As the coffee sector is negatively affected by excessive imports, PCAFI asked DA to use the RA 8800 fees to develop the coffee industry.

“The DA budget should provide for enough planting materials either through cuttings or
tissue culture to a wider coverage of farmer groups to generate at least five million coffee trees with a better yield from 700 kilos per hectare comparable to Vietnam production of 3-5 tons per hectare.”

DA coffee program should also provide training and better technology to farmers; encourage the youth to participate in the project; encourage a wider participant granting National Seed Certification from the Bureau of Plant Industry; and prioritize coffee for intercropping with the coconut trees.

PCAFI also asked DA to simply farmers’ access to the credit guarantee of the Philippine Guaranty Corp. The guarantee will ensure easier access of farmers to credit with banks.

Likewise, the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC) should insure crops, livestock, poultry and dairy against climate change, pests, and diseases. PCIC should expedite payment of insurance calls to provide confidence to investors and banks.

DA in collaboration with the Department of Finance should encourage front-end or forward purchase on planted crops to provide a turn-around capital of farmer-producers. Such production contracts and warehouse receipts should enable farmers to use these as collaterals to avail of loans from Land Bank and Development Bank of the Philippines.

Special safeguard funds must be put up to encourage banks, Land Bank and DBP
to provide farmers easy access to credit.

PHOTO DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel (sixth from left) meets with PCAFI led by President Danilo V. Fausto (fifth from left)

October 14, 2023

Melody Mendoza Aguiba

The government should take advantage of the lower price of nature-friendly biodiesel by raising coconut methyl ester’s (CME) mix to diesel to 5% so as to generate huge foreign exchange savings equivalent to P23.4 billion yearly.

   Aside from enhancing the fuels’ ability to cut pollutant greenhouse gas emission, the increase in the biofuel will enable Philippines to displace a big amount of imported diesel, according to United Coconut Association of the Philippines (UCAP) Chairman Dean Lao Jr.

   “We are importing 13 billion liters of diesel (yearly).  From B2 (2% biodiesel) to B5 (5% biodiesel), we can displace an additional 390 million liters equivalent to P23.4 billion,” Lao told a press briefing hosted by the Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc. (PCAFI).

   The Philippines was a pioneer in 2006 in adopting the biodiesel technology through CME, being itself then the biggest exporter of coconut oil.

   Having ratified Republic Act 9367 or the Biofuels Act of 2006, government subsequently implemented biodiesel mix of 2%.  Despite its early adoption, the Philippines has been overtaken by other Southeast Asian countries in maximizing use of the environment-friendly technology.

   “When we started in 2006, we were the pioneer. Now, we’re the laggard,” said Lao.

   Indonesia is now the leader in biodiesel with its mix reaching to 30% and even announced early this year a 35% blend.

   The country’s commercialization of biodiesel has stagnated since 2009, the last time that the biodiesel mix was raised from 1% to 2%.

  Along with the cheaper price now of biodiesel compared to fossil fuel-based diesel, the Philippines is missing on the other advantages of a higher biodiesel mix. These are improved vehicle mileage and the reduced pollutant carbon dioxide emission to the environment.

   Due to the slow uptake on the technology, several companies are not operating at present, incurring opportunity loss.

   The Philippines, in fact, has excess production of CME.

   “Do we have enough coconut?  There is enough coconut oil to supply biodiesel.  The infractructure is ready to supply the  increase from 2% to 5%.  The capacity is ready.  And It’s the simplest to implement,” said Lao.

   PCAFI, led by its president Danilo V. Fausto, recommended the increase of CME blend to B3 by January 2024; B4 after six months thereafter; then B5 by 2025.  

   “The National Biofuels Board (NBB) has not championed B5 despite its merits. Misinformed politicians campaign against biofuels,” according to PCAFI in a position paper.

   Pollutant emission from 100% biodiesel has been proven to be 74% lower than those from petroleum diesel, according to a life cycle analysis conducted by the Argonne National Laboratory.

   As it uses generally vegetable oils compared to the depleting petroleum resource, biodiesel is deemed a renewable and biodegradable fuel. 

   “Biodiesel meets both the biomass-based diesel and overall advanced biofuel requirement of the Renewable Fuel Standard,” reported the Department of Energy (DOE).

  DOE cites other benefits of biodiesel including clean burning and use of domestic production.

   “Using biodiesel as a vehicle fuel increases energy security, improves air quality and the environment, and provides safety benefits,” according to DOE. “Biodiesel in its pure, unblended form causes far less damage than petroleum diesel if spilled or released to the environment. It is safer than petroleum diesel because it is less combustible.”

   Vehicle engine operation is improved as biodiesel improves fuel lubricity and “raises the cetane number of the fuel.”

PHOTO Nature friendlier biodiesel at 5% mix Credit- UNTV

October 14, 2023

By Melody Mendoza Aguiba

An aquaculture exporter has urged local government units (LGUs) to pursue a Sustainable Aquaculture Program in their domestic water so as to generate jobs and help beef up food security and protein supply in the Filipino diet.

   In a press briefing of the Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc (PCAFI), Norberto O. Chingcuanco, Feedmix Specialist Inc. (FSI) vice president, also asked LGUs to issue long term aquaculture permits. 

   This will ensure long term investments in the fishery sector.

  Adopting a Sustainable Aquaculture Program (SAP) can be a major livelihood program of LGUs aligned with national government’s call for sustainable food production.

   It should be an intentional policy program to attract private sector investments.

   “These policies should contain proper zoning and site exclusivity per company or group. 

 Long term permits encourage needed long term investments,” said Chingcuanco     

   Also integrated in the SAP should be priority employment for local or native communities within the LGU.  It should implement safety and labor standards.  Fees and rentals should be appropriate to cover costs of monitoring and regulations.

   Chingcuanco lamented that the Philippine government has made it easier to import raw fish.  That is rather than importing cooked raw materials in order to produce feeds and grow its own fish.

   PCAFI President Danilo V. Fausto government should also boost production of fish fries needed in fishery production.  It should put up more hatcheries where fish and shellfish are spawned and hatched until large enough to be transferred to an aquaculture farm.

   “BFAR (Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources) said tilapia fry and fingerling production was 208.35 million in 2020 while annual demand is 2.1 billion tilapia fingerlings,” said Fausto.

   Even local communities will be benefitted by an LGU-based SPA as they will have priority access over whatever food is produced.

   FSI with its affiliate firm Fisher Farms is an integrated aquaculture company with seafood processing facilities that enable export products to reach Europe and North America. 

   It boasts of full traceability enabling food safety, technological innovation even in feeds, sustainable farm management, and the largest of its kind in its processed fish production.

   All of Feedmix’s hatcheries and feeds manufacturing facilities are certified and regulated by BFAR.  Fisher Farms’ facilities are certified by Sanitation Standard Operating Procedure (SSOP), Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP), Good Manufacturing Practice, and World Halal Council. 

   Calling aquaculture “fish farming” rather than fish hunting, Chingcuanco said aquaculture in the Philippines has exceeded fish hunting production with 2.349 million metric tons as of 2022.  Commercial fisheries only reached 868,408 MT and municipal fisheries, 1.122 million MT.

    In his “Sustainable Aquaculture as a Livelihood Option,” Chingcuanco said the fisheries sector is a major job employer in the Philippines. 

   “WE have over 2 million registered fisherfolks as of 2021,” he said.

   This consists of capture fisheries, 1.095 million fishers; gleaning, 253,825; aquaculture, 247,164; fish vending, 147,038, fish processing 4,524, and related jobs, 404,113.

   An aquaculture or marine culture site employs 10 people per hectare and produces 250 tons of fishery per year.

  The advantage of SAP is it can be done in remote coastal areas, can employ people in the farflung provinces, and is a source of local food supply and local revenue.  It is protective of the environment if only proper policies are in place.

   Fishes are a major source of protein for the Filipino diet.

   “Fish and fishery products constitute 11.68% of each person’s total food intake which is equivalent to 93.9 grams per day,” he said.  “Each Filipino consumes an average of 34.27 kilos of fish and fish products per year, 65% from aquaculture.”

   The Philippines should take advantage of its natural resource, having the second longest coastline among South East Asian countries and China.   It has a coastline of 36,289 kilometers, just second to Indonesia, 99,073 kilometers.

   Even if fishermen and fishing investors take huge risks in the sector with storms, volcanic eruptions, and climate change, he said the country remains lucky as fishery resources just stay in the waters and are not lost.  That makes it less risky compared to crops.

By Melody Mendoza Aguiba

June 20, 2023

Filipino seafood exporter Fishta Seafood Inc. (FSI) has enabled fishing communities in Busuanga, Palawan to contribute to Philippines’ fishery export to Japan and Canada through its marketing effort under a USAID sustainable fishing program.

   Speaking at the Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc.’s (PCAFI) “Usapang Pagkain,”    Carina Ong Tan, FSI general manager, said long term benefits to the livelihood of at least 50 women in Busuanga are anticipated.

   “Sustainability of the supply chain is something I champion and believe in.   We help the community by investing in the supply chain and by teaching people. We become the linkage (between fishermen and the market),” Tan said.

   FSI has partnered with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Fish Right  and Seatrace International Inc. to promote responsible fish sourcing, reversing the adverse impact of  Illegal, Unreported, Unregulated (IUU) fishing.  

   FSI, a spinoff from parent firm aquaculture feeds producer Santeh Feeds Corp., supplies seafoods to supermarkets, restaurants, and overseas markets from its owned or contracted farms.  These are in the form of live, frozen, chilled, and smoked products. 

   It has invested in the seafoods supply chain in order to achieve fish production sustainability, ensure its products’ safety, and reach bigger local and export markets. 

   It has invested in facilities– blast freezing, indirect contract freezing, and individually quick frozen technology.

   “This is an example of the idea of introducing innovation and market linkage direct to the source, from the fishing communities themselves.  We buy their products direct from them, and they no longer have to go to traders,” said Tan.

   “It’s a program that gives attention to the island itself.  Other fishing communities go to us for the replication of this program.  We can contribute these ideas to the seafood industry because we have access to technology and markets.  This way, we can make an impact directly to fisherfolks.” 

   With its ability for traceability, food safety is ensured. Consumers are able to send feedback on the quality of a seafood product as their origin may be traced. With traceability, the company can pull back products in the market that pose any adverse risk on human health.

   “We are still in the process of creating our RSS (responsibility sourced seafood standard) Policy to achieve 100% Traceability & Transparency in our supply chain,” said Tan.

   FSI parent firm SFC was founded by PCAFI Chairman Philip Ong in 1990.   

  SFC boasts of ISO-certified manufacturing facilities that produce optimally bioavailable ingredients for fast seafood growth and for environmental sustainability.

   FSI’s program with USAID  aims to sustain food production while protecting the seas and fish populations. 

   The USAID program recognizes that the Philippines loses an estimated P68.5 billion yearly from illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing

   It has supported protection of fishery areas through key marine biodiversity areas (KMBA) in Calamianes Island, Southern Negros, and Visayan Sea.

   FSI has also  contributed to the empowerment of 50 women and their families as the Department of Trade and Industry granted them a brine cold storage facility upon FSI’s training of these women.

PHOTO Fishta links Palawan fishermen direct to consumers of value added seafood products like this Halibut

September 15, 2022

Rice farmers have pleaded to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to restore National Food Authority’s”regulatory powers” to ascertain farmers of a sure market that pays higher while also assuring lower-price for the poor segment of consumers.

The Mabandi Multi Purpose Cooperative (MPC) in Pulong Bayabas, San Miguel, Bulacan and the Federation of Central Luzon Farmers Cooperative (FCLFC) have also asked the president to raise farmgate price of clean and dry palay (unmilled rice) to P23 per kilo.

Palay buying direct from farmers used to be a major intervention of the former National Food Authority (NFA) prior to this function’s abolition under the Rice Tariffication Law.

While ‘ayuda’ (financial assistance) is given in cash, the farmers insisted they prefer to be treated with fairness and in a more business-proper manner. Ayuda is only given arbitrarily.

“Not everyone gets to receive ayuda. Only those that are close to those in power. But when palay price is raised to P23 per kilo at farmgate, that benefits all farmers,” said Atanacio Santos of the Mabandi MPC.

Only 75% of farmers get to receive ayuda, said Santos.

The Philippines’ food security problems can be significantly solved if government assures farmers of this palay market. Providing a stable farmers’ market is a function that has been practised by countries with progressive, profitable agriculture sector.

“Kung talagang magnanais tayo na magkaroon ng sapat na pagkain ay ipatupad natin ito at hindi puro salita lamang,” said the rice farmers in an open letter. “Ang patuloy na pagwawalang bahala ay hudyat ng kamatayan ng pangsakahan. Patuloy na maghihirap ang mga magsasaka at tuluyang mawawalan ng pagkain ang taong bayan.”

{Marcos should immediately implement the price increase, or ignoring farmers’ plea signals death of the rice sector. More farmers will be impoverished, and consumers will run out of food.)

The increase to P23 per kilo already covers all costs of production including those for seeds, fertilizer, irrigation, according to Simeon Sioson, FCLFC chairman. Farmgate price has dropped to P18 to P19 per kilo and even hit a very low level at P10 to 14 per kilo. This has caused huge losses on farmers and compelled many farmers to give up tilling the land.

“The P23 per kilo farmgate price will cover all increases in costs in the market including those for the higher price of fertilizer now, diesel, and pesticides,” said Sioson.

But aside from farmers, the government will also be a big beneficiary since government can collect additional value added tax (VAT). Such additional VAT may then be used to subsidize the cost of rice for consumers.

Prior to the RTL, the poor used to depend on cheap NFA rice for their staple.

“Now there is no more P27 per kilo NFA rice.”

Trade liberalization advocates stress NFA’s rice subsidy function for consumers renders it bankrupt, dependent on huge loans, and incompliant to free market principles.

But Danilo V. Fausto, Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc. president, said NFA is not supposed to be profit-making like private companies.

“NFA’s purpose is not to make a profit (but intervene and assist rice sector),” said Fausto.

But with the P23 per kilo farmgate price, government will even hit its targeted P20 per kilo price at consumers’ market– given government subsidizes rice price for all using the additional VAT it collects.

Sioson said government should strictly monitor the Philippines’ rice shortfall. This will prevent any excess in domestic rice volume that causes further rice competition to farmers.

“Importation only benefits farmers in Vietnam and Thailand. We should rather protect our farmers. Only the shortfall should be imported,” Sioson said.
Even government’s buffer stocking function for the lean months, with inventory level required is at 30 days, will be addressed through higher production from incentivized farmers.

“Our rice sector will flourish. Everybody will be benefitted,” said Sioson.
Mabandi MPC and FCLFC also said government should take into consideration the many climate disturbances adversely are affecting farming.

“Tinatamaan din kami ng climate change tulad ng mga bagyo, pagbaha at kung minsan tagtuot. Apektadong apektado rin kami ng inflation.”

“Dahil sa kasalukuyang tagtuyot sa China, apektado din ang mga bansang Vietnam, Cambodia, at Thailand–dala ng mababawasan ang tubig galing sa China. Babagsak (lahat) ang kanilang produksyon.”

(We are also affected by climate change’s including typhoons, flooding, and sometimes drought. We are also severely affected by inflation. The drought in China also affects Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand who suffer from lower level of water from China, Their production will also decline. (Melody Mendoza Aguiba)

September 5, 2022

The Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Council (PBIDC) has urged government to restore EO 879 mandating Department of Education’s use of bamboo for school chairs–spurring demand for the crop that generates $4.6 million largely private-led investments.

PBIDC, chaired by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) but has yet to convene since the start of President Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr.’s term, also pressed Marcos to pick bamboo as the symbolic tree to plant.

On September 13 2022, Marcos will celebrate his first birthday as Philippines’ president and as customary will have a tree planting ceremony.

PBIDC OFficer Deogracias Victor Savellano said PBIDC hopes Marcos will use bamboo for the symbolic tree planting as this will stress bamboo’s high valuation as an indigenous highly-marketable Philippine product.

“Bamboo is important. You can’t have fishing boats without bamboo outriggers. You can’t have fishpens without bamboo poles. Banana or export will yield to the ground without bamboo poles to prop it up,” he said during a Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food (PCAFI) press briefing that Savellano hosted at his family-run Victorino’s.

“Labong can only be harvested if there is enough bamboo. Maybe now that PBBM is the DA Secretary, bamboo can be given due focus and its large potential realized”.
Investments in the bamboo industry has been largely private sector-led. The PBIDC hardly had any budget and “could not fully function because of lack of budget,” according to PBIDC.

PCAFI President Danilo V. Fausto said government should support bamboo planting considering its versatility in use. Demand should also be encouraged as it is not only DepEd that’s mandated to use it, but even government offices.

“Garlic (like other commodities) has been allocated with a budget of P100 million. But the budget went missing. With bamboo, there is no budget that was lost. Why? Because there is no budget at all,” according to Fausto.

Executive Order (EO) 879 which created PBIDC mandates that 25% of all desks and tables of the Department of Education (DepEd) schools shall be made of bamboo.
However, there is limited supply to meet the 25% threshold. Thus in 2021, the DepEd unilaterally removed bamboo as part of acceptable material in teacher and student chairs and tables.

The industry has yet to take off and realize its full potential.

“This is the fastest growing tree that can be harvested in three to four years. Hopefully before PBBM steps down in 2028, it is already a huge industry,” said Savellano.

Edgardo C. Manda, PBIDC president, also said during the PCAFI briefing that he hopes PBIDC will soon convene in order to revive the industry. This is considering that Philippines is fifth largest bamboo and rattan product exporter in the world and faces even bigger export potential.

PBIDC’s members include secretaries of the Department of Agriculture, Department of DepEd, Department of Science and Technology, and Department of Labor and Employment.

Bamboo’s many uses

Bamboo is climate smart crop and useful in controlling erosion. It grows faster than hardwood trees and is considered a renewable resource as it is grown as a plantation crop.

“Bamboo propagation battles climate change and global warming by growing faster than hardwood trees and absorbing more carbon to support agricultural productivity and sustainablity,” said Manda.

It can be used as timber for major construction and building uses, along with its many uses for food and beverage.

For food it is cooked as “labong,” baked bamboo shoots, braised bamboo shoots, spicy pickled bamboo shoots. Bamboo culm is used to make wine and beer. Bamboo leaves are used as food for livestock.

The special flavor of a fresh culm is used for cooking rice and fish. Bamboo is used for vegetable fruit garden stakes and hangers, pole to support banana trees, and as tobacco curing barns.

Bamboo is used for irrigation as poles carrying water. It is used as planter and container for rural food products, basket for crop harvesting, structure for animal cages, farm fence material, katig in boats, fish cages in fish ponds, and fish traps.

Bamboo takes many forms as crafts and rural home utensils, material for bridges in rural communities, and bahay kubo and resthouses. Bamboo wagons are used to transport farm goods. It is even used as a musical instrument, textile, and Christmas decor. (Melody Mendoza Aguiba)

May 25, 2022

The private sector has pressed government to bolster support for private businesses given the imminent “food catastrophe” arising from many global phenomena topped by the Russian invasion that compel food producers to ban export.

Russia, Ukraine, India, among others, have already stopped wheat exports while many other countries contemplate to keep their food production for their own security.

As such, Philippines faces food security threats, along with soaring food prices, because of its heavy food import dependence.

Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc. (PCAFI) President Danilo V. Fausto said the private sector plays a critical role now that the country still lurks with travails from Covid 19.

“Government should provide the right environment and incentives for the private sector to invest, expand their production, value chain and supply chain logistics,” said Fausto at PCAFI’s first face-to-face assembly two years since the pandemic began.

“Government should not kill them with competition from cheap and subsidized imported products.”

While the Department of Agriculture (DA) has made importation its pivotal policy to produce food, this is a mere short term solution.

“Providing cheap food for the consumers and fighting inflation through imports is a short term solution. Producing our own food requirements, although a longer process, will be more sustainable for our people,” Fausto said.

The private sector provides 95% of the investments that bring about agriculture production, he stressed.

In the face of world hunger, the more should agriculture sector get a bigger share in budgetary increase even despite the country’s ballooning debt of P12.7 trillion.

“We appeal that food production should not be sacrificed as the Department of Budget and Management undertakes hair-cuts for future budget allocation.”

Livestock and poultry, contributing a third or 30% of agricultural production should get a sizable budget from only 3-4% of the DA budget.

With the supply of imported feed wheat now limited, local corn production should be raised. Corn supply is currently at measly 57% sufficiency level. Feed wheat is an alternative to corn which represents 60% of feed ingredients. Feed itself represents around 70% of cost in growing chickens and pigs.

Cheaper alternative to feed inputs should be tapped as those developed by Filipino scientists from University of the Philippines Los Banos.

DA should promote use of inorganic oil-based fertilizers, utilizing organic materials, resulting in equally high yield and efficient production of rice and other crops.

PCAFI expects ratification of the Philippine Livestock Industry Development Act.
It has repeatedly appealed for the establishment of a first border quarantine facility, undertaking food safety measures amid the debilitating African swine flu and fighting smuggling of agriculture products.

All tax revenues derived from imported commodities must be utilized to the same sector where it was generated to help develop the said industry.

If the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is ratified, incentives should be given for export winners to expand jobs creation. More protection should be granted to losing products facing stiffer competition from imports.

“More products have to be supported to expand our variety of agricultural exports to bring in more dollars, We must not suffer the same fate from our painful lessons when we joined the World Trade Organization,” said Fausto.

“Appropriate laws were passed by Congress and the Senate. But the implementation of these laws were not done to keep our affected agriculture sub-sectors protected, compared to other countries like Vietnam and Thailand.”

PCAFI also presses government to implement the following long awaited programs.

1. Establishment of reliable and real time data information system.
2. Incentives to investments and easy access to credit and capital. Review of the implementation priorities of Philippine guarantee fund.
   Out of the total outstanding guarantee done by Philippine Guarantee Corp. (PGC) of ₱207 billion, only ₱500 million is for agriculture credit and ₱300 million for micro small medium enterpries (MSMEs).
   But a whopping ₱203 billion is allocated for real estate, benefitting big developers that do not need to be guaranteed by government.
   The farm sector also needs more the institutionalization of the use of warehouse receipts in guaranteeing credit which is a former function of the bankrupt Quedan and Rural Guarantee Corp.
3. Rationalizing legal framework for the use of generic seeds for corn and balancing the use of organic fertilizers to reduce dependence on expensive oil- based inorganic fertilizers
4. Accelerate effort to farm consolidation and clustering for mechanization and economies of scale. (Melody Mendoza Aguiba)

May 20, 2022 

The United Broilers and Raisers Association (UBRA) has opposed the reappointment of Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary William D. Dar who has promoted a regime of importation and the “vested interests” of importers “at the expense” of farmers. 

In an open letter to President-elect Ferdinand Bongbong R. Marcos Jr., UBRA said Philippines and its farmers became sacrificial lambs on Dar’s import policy that failed to lower food prices. 

Such misguided neo-liberalist position neglected to harness Philippines’ resources to achieve “food sovereignty.” 

“He (Dar) has been completely subservient to the misguided emphasis on import liberalization. The reality is that whether accidentally or intentionally, it has conveniently benefitted mainly the vested interests of importers at the expense of the majority of our people,” UBRA said led by its president, Lawyer Jose Elias M. Inciong.

  “Retail prices have remained high despite increasing importation through the years. It has made us dependent on overseas employment and business process outsourcing.” 

UBRA cited that during Dar’s term (2020), Commission on Audit’s (COA) found P9.454 billion in disallowances, audit suspensions, and charges, P17.542 billion in unliquidated fund transfers to implementing agencies and non-government organizations, P20.21 billion unliquidated fund transfers in prior years, and P9.806 billion returned to national treasury.  

Dar will be worsening Philippines’ vulnerability to climate change, consequently, food security.  

This is as irrigation source for rice farming has been adversely limited by conflict posed by China and droughts in countries where Philippines sources its food imports. 

“In Indochina, the area most relied upon by neoliberal economists for our rice imports, there has been saltwater incursion in the Mekong Delta up to at least 15 kilometers. Dams built by China have interdicted the flow of the Mekong River from its source,” Ubra said in the letter also signed by its chairman Gregorio San Diego.  

“In the Indian subcontinent, another source of rice imports, droughts are becoming perennial. The same with the whole of United States. The lakes along Rio Colorado are at 30% or normal levels. Australia has had drought problems for years. There is an increasing trend for banning export of food.” 

It will be the Marcos’s administration’s biggest fault to reappoint Dar.  

“He has been openly and aggressively campaigning to be retained as secretary of Agriculture. Please do not succumb to his shameless self-promotion and propaganda. As aptly stated by  Senate President Tito Sotto in a committee hearing on smuggling, that would be the ‘biggest mistake” of the next administration.” 

While some import liberalists assert that Singapore is a progressive food-importing nation, UBRA said “Singapore itself has decided to increase its level of self reliance given its limitations.” 

Singapore aims to reduce its food importation from 90% to 70%. That, despite its small population. End 

“Secretary Dar’s tenure has been about importation from heavily subsidized agricultural systems. We are on very dangerous ground because he implemented import liberalization to the hilt.   It (reappointing Dar) will not be an act of shooting oneself in the foot but in the head,” said UBRA. (Melody Mendoza Aguiba)

April 6, 2022 

Dairy farmers have vehemently opposed a proposed Department of Education (DepEd) policy to source from multinational corporations – instead of from Filipino farmers– the milk for its School Based Feeding Program (SBFP).  

The Dairy Confederation of the Philippines, in a letter to DepEd Secretary Leonor Magtolis-Briones, said Filipino milk farmers stand to lose P250 million from the policy. 

Besides, RA 11037 “states unequivocally that as far as practicable,” milk for the SBFP shall be sourced from local farmers and processors. 

“This is in violation of the purpose and spirit of RA 11037,” said DCP Director Danilo V. Fausto in the letter. RA 11037 institutionalizes the National Feeding Program for Undernourished Children in Public Day Care Center, Kindergarten, and Elementary Schools to Combat Hunger and Undernutrition. 

The latest policy is for implementation from April to June 2022. 

“We strongly deplore and object to this sudden and unilateral program implementation schedule for the 2022 GAA (General Appropriations Act) . The schedule will unfairly prevent the local farmers, cooperatives and local milk processing plants from supplying the milk requirements of the SBFP under the 2022 GAA,” Fausto said. 

The local dairy farmers, processors and cooperatives started serving the SBFP during GAA 2019 in the last quarter of 2020 and continued on to GAA 2020 and then to GAA 2021 which is currently ongoing.  

“They cannot possibly be expected to supply the GAA 2022 milk in the sudden and unilateral imposition of an April 2022 to June 2022 period within which to supply milk because the 2021 GAA is still ongoing. And the milk is still being produced and delivered,” Fausto said.  

The milk feeding for 2021 is still ongoing because of the pandemic and will finish by June 2022. DepEd wants to implement 2022 starting April to June this year, overlapping the ongoing milk feeding using the budget for 2021. 

This will in effect allow foreign multinationals to come in since “we will have to finish first the 2021 up to June, thus, local dairy farmers cannot supply the April to June request of DepEd.” 

DepEd is now asking NDA (National Dairy Authority) and PCC (Philippine Carabao Center) to sign a certification that local dairy farmers cannot supply the milk to allow the entry of foreign multinational dairy companies, dislodging the local dairy farmers for the GAA budget 2022. 

“The very spirit why RA11037 was created…to give livelihood and income opportunities for our local farmers. Local dairy farmers can supply the milk required under the program.”. 

DepEd wants to implement the milk feeding program only for 16 days, while the recommendation of the National Food and Nutrition Council is 90-120 days to have real and meaningful impact on the health of school children.  

Furthermore, majority of the local dairy farmers and cooperatives have reinvested their earnings to expand their capacities. 

“And now they will be shut out and excluded under the program, consequently resulting in losing millions of pesos for these dairy cooperatives, turning their expansion to white elephants,” said Fausto. 

“If they allow multinationals to enter, the rest of 2022 beginning July to December, the local dairy farmers & cooperatives will be shut out and excluded. The multinationals will advantage of the milk feeding program funded by tax payers’ money.” 

DepEd does have a commitment on fund utilization with the Department of Budget and Management, DCP admitted. But this unilateral decision to implement starting April 2022 effectively excludes local dairy farmers and milk processing plants.

The policy will double multinationals’ share to the milk feeding program in 2022 to 41.89% equivalent to 442.692 million from 19.07%  in 2021. (Melody Mendoza Aguiba)

1 Pebrero 2022

Inilathala ni Melody Mendoza Aguiba

Nagpahayag si senatorial candidate Risa Hontiveros ng pagsuporta sa vision  na kung tawagin ay “Pagtanaw sa 2050” na naglalayong pangarapin na ang Pilipinas ay maging isang tunay na dakilang pang-karagatang bansa. 

   Ang taglay nitong pulu-pulong heograpiya ay magiging pinaka-importanteng asset o kayamanang na pang-ekonomiya ng Pilipinas.

   Sa isang online forum na tinawag na “Halalan Para sa Agrikultura 2022” na inorganisa ng Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc. (PCAFI), nagpahayag ng paniniwala si Hontiveros na higit sa anumang katangian, ang pag-hinang ng kayamanang pang-karagatan ang mag-aangat sa ekonomiya ng Pilipinas. 

   Ang importansya nito ay higit pa sa anumang kayamanang pan-lupa o likas na yaman.

   “Naalala ko ang mga adbokasiya na naglalayong ang ating kasaysayang pang-karagatan ay dapat na ituro sa ating mamamayan.  Iyan ay mahalaga sapagkat ang ating karagatan ay mas malawak kaysa sa ating kalupaan,” sabi ni Hontiveros.

   “Kaya nga’t aking kinikilala kayong mga nag-balangkas ng ‘Pagtanaw sa 2050.’  Mas hinigitan pa ninyo ang ‘Ambisyon 2040,’” ayon kay Hontiveros  sa online forum na pang-agrikultura. 

   Ang ambisyon na ito ay maaring isama na mungkahi sa lehislatura para na rin suportahan ang mga Pilipinong mangingisda at lahat ng mga Pilipinong may ipinaglalabang karapatan sa kayamanang pang-enerhiya sa West  Philippine Sea, sabi ni Hontiveros.

   Ang kayamanang pang-karagatan ng Pilipinas ay dapat na laging ipagmalaki maging sa lokal man na  usapin o pang-daigdigan, sabi niya.

   “Dapat itong malaman ng bawat isang Pilipino, ng bawat mag-aaral.  Dapat isapuso ang ganito nating pagkatao.  At dapat tayong mamuhay ayon sa ganito nating taglay na katangian sa rehiyonal o pang-daigdigang kalagayan,” aniya.

   Ang forum na pinamunuan ng pangulo ng PCAFI na si Danilo V. Fausto ay kapwa inorganisa rin ni Alyansa Agrikultura Convenor Ernesto M. Ordonez, Pambansang Syentista na si Emil Q. Javier,  Federation of Free Farmers Chairman Leonardo Q. Montemayor, at Rice Watch President Hazel Tanchuling.

   Ang pangangarap sa Pagtanaw sa 2050,  na pinamunuan ng National Academy of Science and Technology o NAST ng Pilipinas, ay nagsaad na ang ating industriyang pang-karagatan ay magbubunga ng $3 trillion na kita. 

   Ito raw ay ayon sa projection na ulat ng Overseas for Economic  Cooperation and Development o OECD.

   Sinabi ni  Javier na ang Pagtanaw sa 2050 ang magbubunsod ng modernisasyon ng agrikultura ng Pilipinas. 

   At dahil dito, mahalagang maitayo ang isang Department of Fisheries.  Ito ay hiwalay sa kasalukuyang Department of Agriculture kung saan napapaloob ang Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources bilang isang maliit na unit.

   Ang tinatawag na “Blue Economy” ay ang uri ng ekonomiya na nagdudulot ng kayamanan mula sa karagatan sa paraang maka-kalikasan at sa paraang sustenable o nananatili sa pang-matagalan.

   Ito ay isang hakbang tungo sa pagyaman ng ekonomiya na kinakailangan upang matutustusan ang pangangailangan ng bawat Pilipino sa hanap-buhay, kaseguruhan ng pagkain, at paglalaan ng raw material para sa mga industriya.

   Kinakailangan lamang na maglaan ng puhunan para sa pangkaragataang transportasyon, turismong pang-ekonomiya, pangangalaga ng kalikasan, at maayos na pagpapatakbo ng mga pasilidad ng tubig at iba pang infrastructure.

   Para sa mga Pilipinong naninirahan sa mababang baitang ng mga lugar malapit sa baybaying dagat, magkakaroon ng maraming oportunidad sa turismo. 

   Ito ay magbibigay ng kabuhayan sa 5.71 milyong mangggagawa sa mga resorts. 

   Ito rin ay magbibigay ng hanap-buhay mula sa pag-aayos ng baybaying dagat, pangingisda, at aquaculture (1.6 milyong mangggagawa).

   Para sa industriya sa baybaying dagat, 300,000 na manggagawa ang magkakaroon ng hanap-buhay.  Magkakaroon rin ng hanap-buhay mula sa pagpapatakbo ng pantalan, industriya ng barko at pangkaragatang transportasyon, pang-karagatang enerhiya, pagmimina ng langis sa dagat, bio-teknolohiyang pang-karagatan at parmasyutiko, at serbisyong pang-kalikasan.

   Mapagsisilbihan na ng Blue Economy ang pangangailangan sa diet para sa protina ng mga Pilipino na ang kuwarentang bahagdan (40%)  ay mula sa pangisdaan. 

   Matutustusan na ang pangangailan ng 30 milyung Pilipino na umaasa sa karagatan para sa kanilang kabuhayan.

   Uusbong ang mga bagong industriya at teknolohiya mula sa Blue Economy.  Kasama na rito ang bio-enerhiya sa pamamagitan ng produksyon ng algal biofuel, mga gamot, kosmetiko, pagkain, pagkain ng mga hayop, produkto ng inumin, at multi-trophic aquaculture (produksyon ng hipon, tahong, talaba, sea cucumbers, sea urchins.)

    “Ang ambag ng pangkaragatang industriya sa ekonomiya ay magiging napakahalaga lalo na sa pagpapalawig ng trabaho,” ayon sa Pagtanaw sa 2050.

   Noong 2010, ito ay tinataya sa $1.5 trilyon o 2.5 bahagdan (2.5%) ng pan-daigdigang gross value added (GVA).  Ang pang-karagatang industriya rin ay magbibigay ng direktang hanapbuhay sa 31 milyong katao, ayon sa Pagtanaw sa 2050.

   Dahil agrikultura ang pinag uusapan, sinabi rin ni Hontiveros na ang repormang agraryo ay dapat na maisa-katuparan ng lubusan.   

   Gayunpaman, mahalaga rin na i “cluster” ang mga lupa o malawakang pagsama-sama samahin upang makamit ang tinatawag na “economies of scale.” Ang layunin ng repormang agraryo at pag-oorganisa ng mga kalupaan ay hindi salungat sa bawat isa, ayon kay Hontiveros.  

   Sinabi ni Fausto na hindi makakamit ang economies of scale kung hiwa-hiwalay ang mga lupa sa Pilipinas. 

   “Dapat magkaroon ng win-win na solusyon para magwagi ang bawat isa.  Ang  Department of Agrarian Reform ay may proyekto na ang tawag ay ‘Split’ na pinopondohan ng World Bank. Ang isa nitong layunin ay ipamahagi ang mga lupa sa isang banda, at sa isang banda naman ay i-organisa ang mga agrarian reform beneficiaries upang lumawak ang kanilang kabuuang mga lupain bilang cluster.  Ito ay magpapababa sa gastos sa produksyon ng pagkain at iba pang produktong pang-agrikultura,” sabi ni Hontiveros.

    “Wag po nila gawing prublema ng agrikultura yung isang kasing-halaga na programa ng repormang agraryo. May win-win na solusyon po talaga kung ikakambal at ituturing nilang magkapatid yung dalawang programa.  May iba’t ibang modelo po iyon,” ani Hontiveros.

   Mahalaga na palakasin ang kapasidad ng mga agrarian reform beneficiaries, kahit sa unang award sa kanila ng lupa o kahit pa ipamana na sa kanilang mga anak ang maliliit na parsel ng lupa.  Pero dapat rin na may programa talaga ang gobyerno kasama ang  pribadong sektor (para sa repormang agraryo.  (Melody Mendoza Aguiba)