Solon calls for more investment in agri, climate change adaptation
IFUGAO Representative Teddy Brawner Baguilat has called for increased investments in agriculture development and climate change adaptation and mitigation as the economy continues to be battered by the adverse effects of natural disasters that have in part weakened the farming sector.
The ill - effects of natural disasters such as the recent typhoons on the farming sector, particularly in northern Luzon, were partly blamed for the slower growth in gross domestic product in the third quarter to 6.1 percent from 6.2 percent the previous quarter and 7.2 percent in the same quarter last year, as reported by the Philippine Statistics Authority.
The weakness of the agriculture sector was confirmed by the lower-than-expected third quarter growth, said Baguilat, thus it stands to reason that the economic managers, particularly the Department of Agriculture, should pursue with more urgency measures to boost agriculture output and adapt to climate change.
These include investments in irrigation and watershed protection, given that the Philippines was identified as among the most vulnerable to climate change, marked by the possibility of more frequent and stronger typhoons and more pronounced and longer droughts.
These, in turn, will hamper economic growth over the long term.
“No real economic growth is possible if sustainable development goals are not equally observed. What sense is profit if people and the planet are left behind?” said Baguilat.
But with strategic and increased investments in critical water-
sheds, for example, the Philippines will be assured of water supply to urban cities and critical farmland. Deadly landslides and siltation will also be minimized.
Destroy the watersheds and we end up losing critical water sources and eventually, our agriculture sector will suffer even more, Baguilat said.
“This means that the productivity of our already vulnerable fishermen and fisherfolk will dwindle and keep them in the grip of poverty. We cannot have that. They are already the most affected by rising food prices. We should do all we can to boost that farm output to keep prices down and increase the revenues of our food producers,” said Baguilat.
Over the longer term, Baguilat called for the passage of the long-delayed National Land Use Act and the Indigenous Communities Conservation Areas to ensure that prime agricultural land will not be reduced to give way to runaway urbanization and that indigenous peoples’ cultural practices as they relate to agriculture and the environment will be protected.
Baguilat is principal author of both NLUA and ICCA.
“We should prioritize food security and protect the land that we already have. As it is, we are already hard pressed to produce enough food to feed our growing population. We cannot affort to reduce that even further. With the National Land Use Act, there will be proper delineation of areas for agriculture and for other development purposes,” he said.