Are we food-secure enough to weather global food crisis? – Manila Bulletin

BUSINESS TALK

By WILLIAM S. CO, chairman, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Recently, I was invited as a panelist to a forum on boosting the Philippine agriculture sector and ensuring food security. As someone who is in agribusiness and previously worked as a Philippine agriculture attaché, I have witnessed the highs and lows of our farming and fishery sector. Sadly, for over the past decade or so, our country remains to be food-insecure, we are the most in emerging Asia. In that forum, I was able to share my thoughts on how our nation can achieve food security, which I believe is doable given the right policies and interventions.

Truth to tell, the Philippines remains to be rooted in agriculture, despite the challenges it continues to face. However, agriculture’s contribution to the GDP only accounts for 10 percent when its contribution could even reach 30-45 percent…