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Archives
February 16-29, 2001
New DA sec: peasant champion
by Thea Kristina Pabuayon
 “Empowerment
of the poor.” This is the strategy that newly appointed
Department of Agriculture Secretary Leonardo Montemayor
hopes to adopt in order to eliminate poverty and attain
food security.
Montemayor, a peasant leader, a member
of various farmer organizations and a former party-list
congressman representative of ABA (also known as Coalition
of Farmers, Farm Workers and Fisherfold Organizations),
believes that it is only by restoring to the poor the
capacity to take charge of their lives that they will
have the chance to improve their place in society. This
capacity may mean increased skills or the ability to
have control over their resources.
According to Montemayor, empowerment of
the poor entails four points: resource reform; control
over farming decisions; resource conservation; and provision
of income-generating activities.
The most evident clamour for resource
reform is agrarian reform, which for years now have
been lobbied by farmers to be fully implemented. Most
of the country’s farmers and fishers find livelihood
in land and water resources, and having full access
to these resources through grants and full ownership
would provide them security.
Resource conservation likewise plays a
major role in the strategy. An awareness of both the
consequences of negligent resource management and the
benefits of environment-friendly farming practices should
be promoted to make our farmers, fishers and industry
members more responsible.
With regard to the last two aspects of
empowerment, farmers should be given the chance to fully
participate and control the institutions in-charge of
agriculture. This would entail engaging in micro-finance
and a shift from chemical to sustainable agriculture.
Author of Reforms
Montemayor had his share of the limelight by championing
various causes of farmers and pushing for various reforms
in agriculture.
In March of last year, Montemayor asked
the senate to immediately act on the Safeguards Measure
Act (House Bill no. 7613), which he authored together
with Negros Oriental Rep. Hermino Teves and Quezon Rep.
Marcial Punzalan, to protect local industries such as
chicken and steel from import surges. The Act provides
increased tariffs or temporary ban on foreign agricultural
products that enter the country in volumes or amounts
that cause or may cause harm to the plight of local
industries.
At present, the new DA Secretary has vowed
to go after smugglers of agricultural products. This
will be done through the creation of the Inter-Agency
Anti-Smuggling Task Force that will directly prosecute
suspected smugglers of products such as rice, sugar
and chicken parts.
This anti-smuggling program is part of
his 11-point agenda for the first 100 days of his term.
His other priorities are: accelerated implementation
of AFMA, particularly research and development, extension
and the Strategic Agriculture and Fisheries Development
Zones; implementation of the Fisheries Code; Rural Infrastructure;
Designing of Innovative Credit and Financing Schemes;
Agrikulturang MakaMASA Programs; Enhanced Trade and
Fiscal Incentives; Mindanao Development Programs; Coco
Levy Funds; and People Empowerment. 
February 16-29 2001 Articles: ::
BAR sets priorities for first 100 days of new administration
::
New DA sec: peasant champion
::
BAR meets assistance program grantees target for 1st quarter
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Scientists and policy makers convene for a 2-day training on biotech
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Operational plans of PhilFruits established
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BAR sponsors symposium on biotech
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ISNAR hosts 2nd CGIAR-CDMT joint retreat
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RDMC special meeting held
::: More February 2001 articles :::
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