Protect Philippine Agriculture & Fisheries in the New Normal

October 2, 2020

Our transition towards a new normal has not been an easy one, and all throughout, we have faced a host of multifaceted problems both economic and political. An often-forgotten issue which was faced during the lockdown and well into the present day is the disruption of the logistical links between producers, markets, and consumers. This is compounded by issues in the production and consumption systems which are restrained by quarantine constraints.

These two issues were tackled within the context of managing our supply chains by policy makers, experts and stakeholders in a recent virtual town hall discussion organized by Stratbase ADR institute in partnership with Citizen Watch Philippines. It was raised in this talk that supporting, empowering, and increasing the productivity and profitability of local farmers and fisherfolk is crucial due to its positive effect on the economy. Especially in the context of agricultural and fishery products, the issue about keeping money within the country and providing direct assistance to small farmers was also ventilated. At the same time, it was stressed that a balance must be struck between supporting local agriculture and ensuring food security through appropriate importations. Ultimately, such a balance can only be struck if there is clear financial and legislative support from the public sector to support our farmers. This is coupled with private sector investments to create a whole-of-society approach to solving the issue of food security.

In June of this year, CitizenWatch Philippines called for the stoppage of the unjustified importation of chicken. We have no such shortage of chicken or any other basic commodities that would merit importation on this scale. As earlier presented, the issue lies in a disrupted supply chain between producers and consumers. Thus, the supposed “shortage” in our basic commodities is entirely artificial, and the focus, instead of being on importation, should be to support our farmers.

We continue to express our support for our livestock sector, agriculture, and other allied industries alongside all Filipino businesses. They not only feed us in the most literal sense, but also provide sustenance for our economy. In these times of crisis, we must be guided by the spirit of bayanihan and do our best to give one another a helping hand.

All in all, these issues in the supply chain nevertheless pose a threat to the food security of Filipinos, as they effectively stopped the once-reliable flow of food from farms and fishponds to markets which ordinary Filipinos depended on to put food on their tables.

The issue of food security is not just an issue of supply not meeting demand due to logistical issues, but also of economic problems in our country. This was clearly seen in a recent Social Weather Stations survey that revealed 7.6 million or 30-percent of Filipino families have suffered involuntary hunger in the past three months. When compared to past data, this is the highest incidence of hunger in six years. It would be prudent for us to understand this survey to be an indicator of our present food security (or lack thereof).

In this economy, ordinary consumers struggle to make ends meet for their families due to lost jobs, rising costs, and stifled sources of supplementary income. If this is not met with a swift and decisive response from the government, we will no doubt reach a desperate situation.

As such, CitizenWatch Philippines call on government to take steps to build effective and transparent programs and systems to promote economic growth and stability. In particular, we need to advance the economic well-being of our local food producers, livestock sector, and other allied industries to create effective synergy towards food security for our country. We urge government to focus its support for the private sector, particularly the micro, small and medium enterprises that urgently needs financial assistance.

Let the spirit of bayanihan prevail, as we support our struggling industries to provide for every Filipino consumer!

Orlando Oxales, Lead Convenor, CitizenWatch Philippines