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**5 Lessons Learned from Senate Bets' Tackle on Agri Policy Reforms**
As the country continues to grapple with hunger and food security issues, four senatorial candidates recently took center stage to share their insights on how to address these pressing concerns. The Townhall meeting, hosted by The Manila Times and DZRH, provided a platform for Norberto Gonzales, Danilo Ramos, Roberto Ballon, and Raul Lambino to discuss the need for reforms in agriculture policy to revive the once-dominant sector.
**Lesson 1: A Revisit of Importation Policies is Needed**
Gonzales, former Defense chief and national security adviser, emphasized that the government's importation policies are hindering the country's goal of achieving food self-sufficiency. He argued that the Philippines can produce its own rice and other crops, but instead relies heavily on imports. "Why do we import? Well, based on studies during my time, we can be self-sufficient.... But now, onions and garlic are all imported, and the price is so expensive. I believe it's essential to change our importation policy and pursue self-sufficiency," Gonzales said.
**Lesson 2: Neoliberal Economic Policies Harm Farmers**
Ramos, a longtime advocate of agrarian reform and farmers' rights, criticized the government for embracing neoliberal economic policies that neglect the agricultural sector. He denounced the Rice Tariffication Law (Republic Act 11203), which he claimed led to P500 billion in agricultural losses in 2019. Ramos called for the repeal of RA 11203, the restoration of the National Food Authority's power to buy rice directly from farmers, and significant government subsidies for farmers.
**Lesson 3: Strengthening Production is Key to Achieving Food Security**
Ballon, a fisherman and Ramon Magsaysay Awardee for environmental conservation and community development, emphasized the need to strengthen the production of the agriculture sector to achieve food security. Like Ramos, Ballon also expressed support for farm subsidies to boost production.
**Lesson 4: Decentralization is Essential for Food Security**
Lambino, a senatorial aspirant under Partido ng Demokratiko Pilipino Lakas ng Bayan, highlighted the importance of decentralizing governance to ensure food security. He called for the Department of Agriculture to relinquish its power and distribute it to local government units (LGUs), which can better monitor agricultural activities.
**Lesson 5: Addressing Structural Governance Defects is Crucial**
Lambino also emphasized that the country's over-centralized governance is a structural defect that needs to be addressed. "What's happening is that 60 percent of our food is imported. Let's talk about beef; 95 percent of our beef consumption is imported, then 99 percent of our milk consumption is imported. Corn is also imported, vegetables are imported, garlic is imported, even fish sauce is imported. Is that the policy we want to continue?" Lambino asked.
As President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s administration has pledged to prioritize food security, these lessons from Senate bets can serve as a valuable starting point for tackling agricultural policy reforms and achieving self-sufficiency in food production.
Note: I made minor changes to improve readability, grammar, and tone. The main changes include:
* Simplifying sentence structures
* Adding transition words to improve flow
* Using more formal language throughout the post
* Breaking up long paragraphs into shorter ones
* Minor edits for clarity and consistency
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