# data[].attributes.body
"It's a recession when your neighbor loses his job; it's a depression when you lose yours"
— Henry S. Truman

"Upang makabawi ang ekonomiya, maaari nang payagan ang pagbubukas ng ilan pang industriya" - NEDA

Dahil sa paglaganap ng pandemya sa ating bansa, maraming industriya ang nagsara. Maraming mamamayan din ang nawalan ng trabaho na siya ngang naging dahilan ng pagbaba ng GDP (Gross Domestic Product) ng ating bansa.

Dahil sa kawalan ng kita, naging kaunti na lamang ang kakayahan ng sambahayan na bumili ng mga produkto na maaari nilang gamitin sa pang araw-araw. Kinailangan din nilang magtipid upang makaraos sa ilang linggo.

"Nung pumasok yung pandemic hindi mo alam kung saan ka kukuha ng pera. Hindi mo alam kung kasali ka ba sa ayuda." - Mark Badio (dating teacher aide)

Tama ba ang naging desisyon ng NEDA na aprubahan ang muling pagbubukas ng industriya? O isa itong banta sa paglaganap ng mga kaso ng COVID-19 sa ating bansa?

- Yuri, Richmarl, Elaiza

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Philippine GDP shrinks 4.2% in Q1 2021 | UB

# data[].attributes.body
"There is no more dangerous menace to civilization than a government of incompetent, corrupt, or vile men"
- Ludwig von Mises

"Nagbabayad kami ng buwis, nakakainis! Hindi naman nakikita, saan na napunta?

Sa perang nakokolekta mula sa buwis na binabayad ng mga mamamayan at sa perang ginagasta ng sambahayan. Saan ito napupunta? Sa halip na gamitin ito upang punan ang pangangailangan ng ating bansa: makapagpatayo ng mga imprastraktura at magbigay tulong sa mga mamamayang Pilipino, binubulsa ito ng kurakot na gobyerno.

"Ain't got enough to eat, people starving on the streets"

Maraming parte ng sambahayan ang nagugutom lalo na ang mga taong fixed ang sweldo at mga taong walang kaya. Sa pagbabayad ng buwis at iba pang bayarin, limitado na lamang ang perang maaaring gamitin sa pagbili ng pagkain at mga pansariling pangangailangan.

- Yuri, Richmarl

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
A song about corruption in the Philippines

# data[].attributes.body
"Inflation is the parent of unemployment and the unseen robber of those who have saved"
— Margaret Tatcher

Gaano mo pinapahalagan ang iyong salapi na kinikita mula sa iyong trabaho?

ANG MGA SAMBAHAYAN AY MAY MAHALAGANG PAPEL na ginagampanan sa ekonomiya. Dahil sa paggastos ng mga salapi na kinikita ng sambahayan mula sa kanilang trabaho,  kaya nagkakaroon sila ng kontrol sa demand. Dahil din sa kanilang pagpoprodyus kaya nagkakaroon sila ng kontrol sa supply. Kaya kung iisipin mo, kapag nagkaroon ng mas madaming serbisyo at trabaho sa ekonomiya, tiyak na mas malaki ang kita ng sambahayan at tataas ang presyo ng mga produkto at serbisyo na kabilang sa market basket. Para sa ibang bansa, magandang balita ito dahil nangangahulugan ito na umuunlad ang isang bansa. NGUNIT HINDI ITO ANG KASO SA VENEZUELA. Eh hindi ba't nangangahulugan na umuunlad ang isang bansa kapag tumataas ang presyo? Kaya bakit at saan sila nagkulang?

Nag-imprenta ang pamahalaan ng mga salapi, dahil dito sumasabay na rin ang pagtaas ng demand at paggastos ng mga sektor ng ekonomiya, kabilang na dito ang sambahayan, ngunit hindi na makasabay ang pagtaas ng produksyon. Ito ang naging dahilan ng pagkakaroon ng shortage sa pamilihan, na siyang humihila sa presyo upang tumaas. Kaya naman kahit gaano pa katagal magtrabaho ang mga sambahayan ay parang wala na rin itong silbi dahil hindi ito sapat upang matugunan nila ang kanilang mga pangunahing pangangailangan, dahil dito ay umabot na sa punto na kumakain na lamang ang mga ibang mamamayan ng basura upang hindi sila mamatay sa gutom.

"Venezuelans are not lazy, but salaries are absurdly low. You would be stupid to go to work."

ALAM MO BA?
Sa bansang Venezuela, makakakita ka ng mga salapi na pakalat-kalat sa tabi-tabi, bakit? Dahil ginto na ang kanilang binabayad upang matugunan ang kanilang pangunahing pangangailangan sa isang araw. Ngunit sa ibang bansa, maaari itong gastusin nang mas mahigit at hindi lamang sa iisang basic goods sa isang araw. Gano'n kalala ang hyperinflation sa bansang ito. Samakatuwid, maunlad lamang ang isang bansa kapag nababalanse ng mga sambahayan ang demand at supply—walang labis, walang kulang.

- Bernadette, Beatriz

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Why Are People In Venezuela Starving (Hyperinflation Explained)?

# data[].attributes.body
When tillage begins, other arts follow. The farmers; therefore, are the founders of human civilization.
— David Webster

ANG AGRIKULTURA BILANG GULUGOD NG EKONOMIYA

Ayon sa mga ekonomista, kaya maunlad ang isang bansa dahil sa kakayahan at paggawa ng mga sambahayan kabilang na ang mga nagtatrabaho sa produksyong agrikultural. Tumataas din ang kikitain ng mga sambahayan mula sa bahay-kalakal kapag mataas ang produksyong agrikultural, kaya mataas ang nagiging ambag nito sa GDP. Dito pa lang sa senaryo na ito, mapapaisip ka na lang talaga: ano nga ba ang mangyayari sa GDP kapag mas madami at malawak ang mga likas na yaman sa isang bansa kasabay ng abilidad at kakayahan ng mga magsasaka upang mas dumami ang supply ng mga hilaw na produkto? Sa huli, sa agrikultura nagmumula lahat.

"We must look at the farmers first. After all, more than the doctor, more than the lawyer, we need the farmer. Because we need a doctor or lawyer only a few times in our life, but we need a farmer 3 times a day."
— Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan

Tinatawag na gulugod ng ekonomiya ang agrikultura dahil dito kinukuha ng isang bansa ang kanilang pang araw-araw na pangangailangan. Mahalaga ang pagpapatuloy sa pagsasaka upang matustusan na rin ang lumalaking populasyon, at mas mapabuti ang economic performance ng bansa. Ang mga Louis Vuitton bags na ginagamit mo ngayon ay gawa sa mga exotic skins ng mga hayop, ang mga kanin na kinakain natin sa pang araw-araw ay galing sa mga pananim, at ang mga tsokolate na kinakain natin ay gawa sa cocoa beans na matatagpuan naman sa iba't ibang bahagi ng likas na yaman.

- Bernadette

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
MANILA, Philippines - With Filipino farmers and fishermen among the poorest in the country, and climate change and a growing population threatening food security, government needs to put farmers and fishermen first. (READ: PH agriculture: Why is it important?)

These were the words of Secretary Francis Pangilinan, Presidential Assistant on Food Security and Agricultural Modernization, during an international forum on Monday, July 14.

In front of scientists, business leaders and civil society organizations, Pangilinan admitted that despite the country's fast-growing economy, the agriculture sector and the farmers and fishermen who form its backbone, continue to languish. (READ: PH oceans in crisis: The sad state of small fisherfolk)

"Economic growth is not felt by 20 million Filipinos. If we are, in this country, to reach developed nation status in the next 10 to 15 years, we must address income and growth in the agricultural sector. We must put farmers, fisherfolk and agricultural communities first," he said.

Poor farmers, fisherfolk and people indirectly employed by agriculture make up almost 60% of the country's labor force.

The average Filipino farmer, he said, is 57 years old with an educational attainment of grade 4. He makes roughly P23,000 ($529)* a year and owns just 1.5 hectares of land. (READ: Many poor in PH? NSCB cites dismal agri sector)

Meanwhile, the average Chinese farmer earns around 6,000 yuan a year ($967). The average Thai farmer earns 44,000 Thai Baht ($1,370).

One way to save Philippine agriculture, Pangilinan said, is to increase the income of farmers and fisherfolk. That way, they will continue farming and providing much-needed food for the country's growing population and contribute more to the economy.

Farmers with good income can also make farming "sexy" to encourage young Filipinos to take more interest in agriculture and thus ensure the strength of the agricultural sector for many years to come.
Solutions
Pangilinan said he is looking at various solutions to improve agriculture and the lives of farmers and fisherfolk.

First, the government needs to "take the lead in enabling modernization, innovation, and growth in agriculture by allocating greater resources for agriculture and fisheries."

This means more funds for infrastructure such as farm-to-market roads, irrigation and post-harvest facilities. Government should also fund research on effective agricultural methods, product development, packaging development, and improving access of farmers and fisherfolk to markets.

Pangilinan also pointed at improved access to credit as an area where government can step in.

While the strategy is to get banks to lend more money to farmers, he emphasized it's also a matter of making farmers more viable and bankable.

Banks would be more willing to lend if they had guarantees that farmers can pay back the loan.

"There should be crop insurance. You create now a mechanism of support around the farmer so he becomes bankable," he said.

Another option is to link more farmers with micro-finance organizations who loans to small entrepreneurs or to create tie-ups between banks and micro-finance organizations.
Private sector can save PH agriculture
While government, and particularly his office, has the mandate to boost the agricultural sector, Pangilinan stressed that the private sector is likely to make the biggest impact.

"The government contributes 15% of GDP (Gross Domestic Product). Around 85% comes from the private sector. It's the private sector that has the deepest pockets. And it's the one with the deepest pockets that can ensure strategic and sustainable long-term efforts."

Creative entrepreneurs, with their business savvy, knowledge of the market and resources can link with farmers who know how to make the land productive. (READ: The business of agribusiness)

This would give rise to the social enterprise model exemplified in such success stories as Gawad Kalinga, Rags2Riches and Hapinoy.

If done right, this model could "turn farmers from mere laborers to co-owners of healthy agri-businesses based on the equitable distribution of resources," hoped Pangilinan.

Big companies like Starbucks, Jollibee and Mars Chocolate source many of their ingredients from Philippine farming communities. Smaller entrepreneurs are working with farmers to develop products like organic rice, high-end cheese and artisanal chocolate.

But he admitted that government should set the stage for such partnerships by offering tax incentives to social enterprises, streamlining the bureaucracy and stamping out red tape and corruption.

Agriculture is ripe for investment given the expected surge in demand as the country's - and the world's - population grows.

Over the next 35 years, the Philippine population will rise from 100 million to 140 million, said Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines chief executive officer Lory Tan. Global population is rising from 7 billion to 9 billion in 2050, he added.

With two billion more people in the world by 2050, humanity needs to produce twice as much food, said Jason Clay, WWF United States Senior Vice President for Markets and Food.

More efficient agriculture that uses less resources to make more food is where farmer empowerment and multi-stakeholder collaborations can come in.

The way to improve Philippine agriculture and get it ready for the ASEAN Economic Community in 2015 is to think out of the box instead of treating the sector as an "outdated side project," said Pangilinan.

He concluded, "We must look at the farmers first. After all, more than the doctor, more than the lawyer, we need the farmer. Because we need a doctor or lawyer only a few times in our life, but we need a farmer 3 times a day." - Rappler.com
Filipino farmer image via Shutterstock

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
responsible business forum on food and agriculture

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Pangilinan: Want economic growth? Put farmers, fisherfolk first

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
MANILA, Philippines - With Filipino farmers and fishermen among the poorest in the country, and climate change and a growing population threatening food security, government needs to put farmers and fishermen first. (READ: PH agriculture: Why is it important?)