Agricultural Issues: Food security and rice and corn production
Situationer Ways forward.
“Food security” as defined in R.A. 8435 – the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act: “refers to the policy objective, plan and strategy of meeting the food requirements of the present and future generations of Filipinos in substantial quantity, ensuring the availability and affordability of food to all, either through local production or importation, oir both, based on the country’s existing and potential resource endowments and related production advantages, and consistent with the overall national development objectives an policies. However, sufficiency in rice and white corn should be pursued.”
Food security is especially relevant to rice and corn production because of the large proportion of Filipinos that are directly involved in production and consumption.
• The country has never been self-sufficient in rice and our history of importing rice goes back to the 1870s on account of the government” poor planning on food security.
• Over the 1990s (up to a few months ago), world rice prices were low and stable yet domestic consumer prices have been two to three times those of Vietnam and Thailand and also more volatile.
• Productivity-land deficit situations for corn, livestock and poultry, and fishery production; limited land, available land is inefficient.
• Conversion of agricultural land to non-agri uses
• Unsustainable, illegal farming methods and technologies
• Pollution of agricultural resources
• Natural calamities 1. Implement the Strategic Agricultural and Fisheries Development Zones or SAFDZs that have bee identified and mapped throughout the country. SAFDZs are key agricultural production areas with comparative advantage – location, soil characteristics, irrigation and support infra present and other physical features;
2. Identify existing agricultural lands, assess their production and productivity levels, and to the extent practicable and possible, protect these from conversion;
3. Identify potential agricultural expansion areas, with due consideration for competing land uses, protect these from conversion;
4. Identify marginal lands for agricultural production and provide these with appropriate technologies for basic subsistence requirements;
5. Provide infrastructure support that would link production areas to other land uses, and implement measures to increase productivity in SAFDZs, and in existing and expansion production areas;
6. Identify and delineate existing and potential agricultural, forest, and mining production areas; assess supply and demand requirements, implement measures to improve efficiency, and provide support infrastructure and other facilities; and
7. Promote water security through rehabilitation of denuded watersheds, focused irrigation programs, R & D, and the development and improvement of a water database.
National sufficiency in rice is often defended on the basis of national security – that is, distrust of the capacity and political will of the international market and community to supply food – particularly during times of international crises.
References:
1. NEDA, National Framework for Physical Planning 2001-2030, 2002
2. AIM Policy Center, ed. Luningning Achacoso-Sevilla , “The Ties that Bind: Population and Development in the Philippines 2nd ed.”2004
3. E. Boquiron, “Rice Shortage in the Philippines, unpublished work.
Monday, July 15, 2013
NOTES ON The Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan for the period 2004-2010: Population and Poverty
MARY GRACE B. RANJO
Population and Poverty
Situationer Ways forward.
“Research has never proven a direct link between poverty and population growth, and it would be misleading to assume that one is directly dependent on each other. We cannot discount the other factors, like political shocks or external economic conditions, which added to the poverty problem, but we also cannot discount what research calls the mutually reinforcing relationship between the two that traps communities and families to poverty.” (4)
Contribution of “population dynamics” to economic growth, 1976-2000 A “do nothing” approach to population growth IF complemented by
- higher levels of agricultural output
- accessible education and
- support through a framework of responsive government policies
will allow population growth to serve as a catalyst for growth by providing a strong labor force that can drive the economy forward.
Otherwise, with the domestic economy unable to absorb and provide for the growth, the poverty gap widens.
Country Average Economic Growth, % Net Contribu- tion of Popula- tion, %
Philippines 4.10 1.06
Thailand 8.84 1.83
Indonesia 7.98 1.27
South Korea 9.9 1.66
Population growth in the Philippines contributed the least to economic growth.
Once upon a time, in the 70s to be a bit precise, the Philippines was thought to be a twin to Thailand – almost the same land area, econo-
mic structure, natural resources and goods 1. Prioritization and focus by government (more funds)
The National Anti-Poverty Commission is an inter-agency group created to, among others, generate funds for squatter relocation (through sale of vast government land holdings to private land developers - National Penitentiary, Muntinlupa to Ayala consortium).
Prioritization is key to short-term progress. It will require strong political will as “unpopular” decisions will have to be made and “painfully” (not for policy-makers and – implementers) carried through. Government must deal with waste, corruption, and defective projects.
traded in the international market, a beautiful people with the same Malay and mix Asian-European blood strain, and Bhumibol and Sirikit stood aside for Ferdinand and Imelda.
Population, 1975:
Philippines 43 M growing at 2.56%
Thailand 41 M growing at 2.73% 2. Sharing of responsibility by public and private sector
Private business and civil society share in many poverty-related programs: education, health, housing, community livelihood programs and vocational training. NGOs help in public information, community mobilization and play the role of watchdog and advocate.
Population, 2000:
Philippines 76 M
Thailand 61 M
GDP per capita, 1975:
Philippines US$ 1,502
Thailand US$ 805
GDP per capita, 2000:
Philippines US$ 3,971 grown at 41%
Thailand US$ 6,402 grown at 8.8%
3. Integration of population dimension into development planning and establishing a supportive, enabling policy environment.
4. “Family planning” / “planned parenthood
5. In assessing economic performance, cease and resist comparison with other countries in the region and use, but with great caution, eco nometric models that assess and, more impor tantly, point out the necessary areas for improve ment, e.g. labor force development, expansion of preventive health care, etc.so that population growth is not blamed for slow economic growth.
Population and Poverty
Situationer Ways forward.
“Research has never proven a direct link between poverty and population growth, and it would be misleading to assume that one is directly dependent on each other. We cannot discount the other factors, like political shocks or external economic conditions, which added to the poverty problem, but we also cannot discount what research calls the mutually reinforcing relationship between the two that traps communities and families to poverty.” (4)
Contribution of “population dynamics” to economic growth, 1976-2000 A “do nothing” approach to population growth IF complemented by
- higher levels of agricultural output
- accessible education and
- support through a framework of responsive government policies
will allow population growth to serve as a catalyst for growth by providing a strong labor force that can drive the economy forward.
Otherwise, with the domestic economy unable to absorb and provide for the growth, the poverty gap widens.
Country Average Economic Growth, % Net Contribu- tion of Popula- tion, %
Philippines 4.10 1.06
Thailand 8.84 1.83
Indonesia 7.98 1.27
South Korea 9.9 1.66
Population growth in the Philippines contributed the least to economic growth.
Once upon a time, in the 70s to be a bit precise, the Philippines was thought to be a twin to Thailand – almost the same land area, econo-
mic structure, natural resources and goods 1. Prioritization and focus by government (more funds)
The National Anti-Poverty Commission is an inter-agency group created to, among others, generate funds for squatter relocation (through sale of vast government land holdings to private land developers - National Penitentiary, Muntinlupa to Ayala consortium).
Prioritization is key to short-term progress. It will require strong political will as “unpopular” decisions will have to be made and “painfully” (not for policy-makers and – implementers) carried through. Government must deal with waste, corruption, and defective projects.
traded in the international market, a beautiful people with the same Malay and mix Asian-European blood strain, and Bhumibol and Sirikit stood aside for Ferdinand and Imelda.
Population, 1975:
Philippines 43 M growing at 2.56%
Thailand 41 M growing at 2.73% 2. Sharing of responsibility by public and private sector
Private business and civil society share in many poverty-related programs: education, health, housing, community livelihood programs and vocational training. NGOs help in public information, community mobilization and play the role of watchdog and advocate.
Population, 2000:
Philippines 76 M
Thailand 61 M
GDP per capita, 1975:
Philippines US$ 1,502
Thailand US$ 805
GDP per capita, 2000:
Philippines US$ 3,971 grown at 41%
Thailand US$ 6,402 grown at 8.8%
3. Integration of population dimension into development planning and establishing a supportive, enabling policy environment.
4. “Family planning” / “planned parenthood
5. In assessing economic performance, cease and resist comparison with other countries in the region and use, but with great caution, eco nometric models that assess and, more impor tantly, point out the necessary areas for improve ment, e.g. labor force development, expansion of preventive health care, etc.so that population growth is not blamed for slow economic growth.
NOTES ON The Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan for the period 2004-2010: Income Distribution and the Burdens of Taxation and Debt Payments
Income Distribution and the Burdens of Taxation and Debt Payments
Distribution of Family Income, 1988-1997
Family Income Groups Share in Total Income, %
1988 1991 1994 1997
Bottom 30% 9.3 8.5 8.8 7.8
Middle 40% 27.4 26.2 27.4 24.9
Top 30% 63.4 65.3 63.7 67.2
Note the “entrenched inequality” in this distribution table where a small segment of the population controls most of the wealth and accounts for most of the income.
Situationer Ways forward.
Income distribution and taxation
Government funds are raised from an inequitable and unevenly distributed economy.
This can perhaps explain why it is difficult to raise taxes – as the rich and the powerful resist – and also why it is difficult to make government expenditures pro-poor – the rich and powerful are able to influence government to address their concerns first.
We also have comparatively low revenue efforts. The low salaried group tend to be the “captured” tax payers.
In addition, government collects revenues from an economy where income-producing activities are unevenly-distribute geographically, and are generally concentrated in a few urban centers. This maldistribution of economic activity explains why government expenditures are concentrated in Metro Manila and other cities even as the population in greatest need for government services are in the countryside.
Official development assistance.
In 2004, more than 80% of government revenues went to debt payment; where the Philippine government earns 5 pesos, 4 pesos go to paying our foreign debts.
Wastage of foreign loans, i.e. commitment fees paid for on-going projects as of 2004 is almost US$50 M. • STOP nominal policy frameworks and
development strategy plans where available resources are never sufficient for the declared priorities.
• STOP passing legislation with unfounded
mandates.
• STOP adding insult to injury. With the last
30th percentile so impoverished, announcing reforms that will never be is like salt to their wounds.
• Improve revenue effort level relative to GDP
by increasing tax share (direct taxes) levied on and collected from the better-off families.
• Improve benefit yield from government
expenditure:
• Partnerships (health and education)
• Accountability (defense and police service)
• Deregulation
• Incentives for planned parenthood
• Government productivity enhancement
World Bank-funded Philippine government anti-corruption program and implementation of the Philippine government reorganization and plan.
STOP foreign and local borrowing. While completed power and energy production, as well as transportation infrastructure projects were loan-funded and have actually enhanced production capacities, parts of the national debt were misspent, wasted or stolen.
References:
1. AIM Policy Center, ed. Luningning Achacoso-Sevilla , “The Ties that Bind: Population and Development in the Philippines 2nd ed.”2004
2. ODA Watch, “ODA Policy in the Philippines: How can Civil Society Engage and Contribute”
Distribution of Family Income, 1988-1997
Family Income Groups Share in Total Income, %
1988 1991 1994 1997
Bottom 30% 9.3 8.5 8.8 7.8
Middle 40% 27.4 26.2 27.4 24.9
Top 30% 63.4 65.3 63.7 67.2
Note the “entrenched inequality” in this distribution table where a small segment of the population controls most of the wealth and accounts for most of the income.
Situationer Ways forward.
Income distribution and taxation
Government funds are raised from an inequitable and unevenly distributed economy.
This can perhaps explain why it is difficult to raise taxes – as the rich and the powerful resist – and also why it is difficult to make government expenditures pro-poor – the rich and powerful are able to influence government to address their concerns first.
We also have comparatively low revenue efforts. The low salaried group tend to be the “captured” tax payers.
In addition, government collects revenues from an economy where income-producing activities are unevenly-distribute geographically, and are generally concentrated in a few urban centers. This maldistribution of economic activity explains why government expenditures are concentrated in Metro Manila and other cities even as the population in greatest need for government services are in the countryside.
Official development assistance.
In 2004, more than 80% of government revenues went to debt payment; where the Philippine government earns 5 pesos, 4 pesos go to paying our foreign debts.
Wastage of foreign loans, i.e. commitment fees paid for on-going projects as of 2004 is almost US$50 M. • STOP nominal policy frameworks and
development strategy plans where available resources are never sufficient for the declared priorities.
• STOP passing legislation with unfounded
mandates.
• STOP adding insult to injury. With the last
30th percentile so impoverished, announcing reforms that will never be is like salt to their wounds.
• Improve revenue effort level relative to GDP
by increasing tax share (direct taxes) levied on and collected from the better-off families.
• Improve benefit yield from government
expenditure:
• Partnerships (health and education)
• Accountability (defense and police service)
• Deregulation
• Incentives for planned parenthood
• Government productivity enhancement
World Bank-funded Philippine government anti-corruption program and implementation of the Philippine government reorganization and plan.
STOP foreign and local borrowing. While completed power and energy production, as well as transportation infrastructure projects were loan-funded and have actually enhanced production capacities, parts of the national debt were misspent, wasted or stolen.
References:
1. AIM Policy Center, ed. Luningning Achacoso-Sevilla , “The Ties that Bind: Population and Development in the Philippines 2nd ed.”2004
2. ODA Watch, “ODA Policy in the Philippines: How can Civil Society Engage and Contribute”
NOTES ON The Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan for the period 2004-2010: National Output / National Economic Performance
MARY GRACE B RANJO
National Output / National Economic Performance
Gross National Product (GNP) is the value of all the goods and services produced in an economy, plus the value of the goods and services imported, less the goods and services exported.
Year GNP, in PhP Ann. Growth Rate, % Per capita increase in PhP
1975 453 B 10,600
1998 1,012 B 3.30 13,236
Despite the Asian crisis in 1997, our GNP and GDP sustained its growth momentum.
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) represents the total value of the goods and services produced by an economy over some unit of time (a month, a season, a year etc.). The "Domestic" part of the name comes from the fact, unlike GNP, it does not consider imports or exports in the calculation
Year GDP, in PhP Ann. Growth Rate, % Per capita increase in PhP
1975 454 B 10,600
1998 955 B 3.30 13,236
The growth of the GDP from 1995-2000 was driven by industry and services. Industry supported GDP growth with an annual average growth of 3.17 percent.
Services, benefiting from deregulation, surged by an annual average of 5.19 percent during the same period.
The share of agriculture and industry in the GDP however continues to decrease, a trend consistent with the increasing urbanization of the country’s population and the shrinking of the number of people engaged in non-agricultural activities and the number of people being laid off by manufacturing firms (?).
Regional Economic Performance
Regional shares to GDP, 1998
Region Percentage Share Region Percentage Share
NCR 31 VII 7
III 9 XI 7
IV 16 Other regions 23
VI 7
From 1995 to the present, the National Capital Region has maintained its economic dominance, accounting for 31 percent of GDP. Next to NCR are its contiguous neighbors Regions IV and III.
Regional share to GDP by sector, 1998
Regions IV, XI VI, and III have the highest contribution to agriculture (fishery, forestry).
The bulk of industrial output (mining and quarrying, manufacturing, construction, utilities) come from NCR, and Regions IV and III. Contribution through the services sector (transportation, communication and storage, trade, finance, house construction and real estate, private services, and government service), at 68 percent, come from NCR, and Regions IV, III and VII.
References:
1. NEDA, National Framework for Physical Planning 2001-2030, 2002
2. AIM Policy Center, ed. Luningning Achacoso-Sevilla , “The Ties that Bind: Population and Development in the Philippines 2nd ed.”2004
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
SENOR PILAT (TONDO)
When I visited my homecoming friend, Beth Cunanan (from Canada), at Gagalangin, Tondo, I chanced upon this image of the Nazareno (temporarily) enshrined by the roadside. I was informed by some bystanders that this is the Senor Pilat, named so because of a "scar" on the face of the image and that it is visiting the neighborhood from its niche at the _______________ church (also located in Tondo district, Manila). Passersby venerate the image on their way to work or elsewhere, like this pedicab driver touching the image's hand. In a few days, the image will be returned to the ___________ church and, likely, shall visit another locality in the nearest future.
myPHL - Sundown at Bagac, Bataan - viewed from Las Casas de Acuzar
 myPHL |
Sundown at Bagac, Bataan - viewed from Las Casas de Acuzar
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