The Way Forward: Agrarian Reform versus Industrialization
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Magtanim ay di biro,
Maghapong nakayuko
Di man lang makaupo,
Di man lang makatayo.
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The Philippines’ land has been abundant in natural resources such but what set them more sought-after than other nations was the oceanic bodies and farmsteads archipelago. It was no exemption that fishing produces a score, yet farming was ever the Philippine economy driver. According to Karl Ocampo of Inquirer (2020), our country remained the world’s top rice importer, citing that we had 2.5 million metric tons, although we were expected to decline over 200,000 metric tons. The mere fact that we were able to send an amount of rice to another country signifies our richness — however, we were only the facade of goodness.
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Today, the situation of Philippine Agriculture is steep and in turmoil.
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I have observed that the country’s agriculture has been relevant to issues that still haven’t been approached by the past — and today’s — terms. It was assumed that industrialization would happen along with the farmers’ growth; yet, it was the other way. Agriculture had its shortcomings that turned into a marginalized sector. These slips dated way back to the pre-colonial and conquest of the Philippines.
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Frankly, before the Spaniards surmounted the Philippines, there was already an agricultural system — the main casts for this plan was the Datu, freemen, and slave workers. Juan de Plascencia strengthened these on his Customs of the Tagalogs document, foretelling that the method was communal ties. The slaves need to serve their Datu and freemen, as the other two do their jobs to part the collected goods. It was a beneficial arrangement because both parties could earn at the end, only to change when the American took the position of the Spaniards. In their period, the Filipinos have seen the first founding of private and corporate properties that overwhelmed the Kasama System that the Datus and Spaniards held for so long.
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Due to these particular events, I held the insight that the Philippines’ agricultural sector would lose its favour — and it fell in the following years. The private and corporate lands thrived in which started the inequality and lack of equity. It was the start of the Agrarian Unrest in the Philippines as more farmers demand their benefits against the capitalists. In place of this statement were the obstructions that the farmers experience, stated by Czarina Pansensoy of Rappler (2020), ever since the agricultural system changed, namely:
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- The History of Injustice. Czarina highlighted that farmers and their struggle dated way back decades ago. They were forced to work in a land they do not own and earn unequal payments.
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Filipino farmers are still being oppressed in the economic state. The Mendiola and Hacienda Luisita Massacre are two examples; a tragic history of Filipino farmers’ struggle for land, food, and justice.
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- A not-so-consistent Policy. The government forgot to give an equal and even policy to the farming areas. The administration struggled to direct the agriculture sector regarding its welfare and land reform.
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- Insufficient support. When the Rice Tariffication Law was issued to respond to the concern, Senator Villar cited that it was needed for affordable food and global competitiveness. However, the farmers still haven’t received any law support — even in 2020.
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Filipino farmers are left to sell their rice for as low as 7 pesos a kilo. Some still need to repay the debts they loaned, which take almost all of their payment. The republic bills and constitutional laws signed did not help either because of its loopholes. Although Late President Corazon Aquino greeted the issue through the CARP of 1988, it was not genuine because it was between middle owners and the elites. The workers were set back to oblivion, even though the CARP was extended until 2014. The shares were not enough since 70% were prompted by the elites rather than giving up the title to the farmers who do their responsibilities.
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Agrarian Reform is considerably better.
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This essay brings me back to the question:
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Is it essential for the Philippines to pursue a genuine reform program for development, or is industrialization the way to go forward?
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Taking everything into account, I believe that the Philippines must pursue an agrarian reform program rather than industrialization. If we put these in today’s circumstances, it would be difficult for the tenants to suddenly learn a new system, considering that they got accustomed to the traditional way. Let’s visualize this as a ladder with the reform on its end and the industrialization on the summit. Although these new types of machinery could simplify our farmers’ hard work, they might introduce new problems. The appearance of industrialization in rural areas could result in several events, like this one, namely:
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- One of the frequent drawbacks that industrialization may bring to our farmers is environmental issues, expressly air and water pollution, because they are operated with chemicals.
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As pollution goes, the negative energy it brings to the crops destroy their purpose and longevity, such as storage. It could also risk the community’s health since they live in a rural area with no access to large hospitals. The utilization of these tools adds to the continuous climate change that — subtlety — affects the farmers, which is not more significant than the fishermen.
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I have learned that choosing agrarian reform is better since this is what the farmers have wished for throughout the decades for their fight. However, to strengthen the reform, the government must do their duties and perform reliable measures that include farmers, not only the middlemen and local elites. Although we could not be sure how long will it take for the farmers to feel the reform’s positive outcomes, I believe that the council must launch the procedures needed and transparency — because this is what the Filipinos prolong for; a natural treatment.
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The government must partake and review the bills stipulated for the farmers; this includes the modification of income and yield, passage to market and credibility, and equal benefits rather than incentives.
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Citations.
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- Pansensoy, M. C. (2020, October 28). [OPINION] Palaging pagod at palaging hirap: The story of the Philippine farmer. Rappler. https://www.rappler.com/voices/ispeak/opinion-always-tired-poor-filipino-farmer
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- Ocampo, K. R. (2020, December 12). Despite cut in volume, PH to remain world’s top rice importer. INQUIRER.Net. https://business.inquirer.net/313736/despite-cut-in-volume-ph-to-remain-worlds-top-rice-importer
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Submitted on the 16th of March 2021
Property of Bacurin, Ane Yszabel from ODFM1,
De La Salle –– College of Saint Benilde.
