Starting June 2, 2023, the effectivity of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the Filipino agriculture workers are expected to push for an enhanced support, better access to credit and improved irrigation program.

The agricultural groups have adopted the hashtag “Bantay RCEP, Buy Filipino”, a strategy for their sector to be heard as RCEP takes effect based on the guiding principles of food sufficiency and engagement in government. Accordingly, “this is an unprecedented, almost all of the major agriculture-based groups in the country, united and actively opposing RCEP”, as quoted by the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP). This agri workers sentiment is echoed by the Sugar Council representative who said that “. . . the government needs to support the productivity improvement and competitiveness enhancement or measures needed by the entire Philippine agriculture sector.” Briefly stated, “how can we compete against subsidized importation of food products which have export subsidies or other forms of government support that we do not have?”

MY COMMENT:
The issues that the Filipino agricultural group, with support from certain concerned citizens center on (1) small farmers inability to access to affordable and timely loans/credit programs, making it difficult to modernize, buy new machinery adopt farming techniques and new panting materials and (2) agri farmers feel that the country lack an irrigation program, preventing them from advancing away from being rice-centric.

I find the issues worth paying attention to by the government. On the matter of accessibility to loans and credit programs and mechanization of farmlands, the same are being addressed by the government, but initiatives are not spread, implemented equitably in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao farmers.
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HE said it very clearly. “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.” (Lk 8,21).

If we want to belong to God’s family as we should, since we are meant to be his image and likeness and sharers of his divine life and nature, we should follow what Christ is telling us.
And why should we believe in Christ’s words? That’s because he is the very Son of God, and is God himself, who became man to offer us “the way, the truth and the life” that is proper to us.

Remember that episode of his baptism in the River Jordan? A voice was heard from heaven, clearly telling us who Christ was. “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” (Mt 3,17) And in the transfiguration of Christ, again a voice was heard from heaven: “This is my beloved Son, listen to him.” (Mt 17,5)

Let’s never forget that God always intervenes in our life. He actually is the main shaper and director of our life. But he always needs our cooperation, because he always respects our freedom.

Thus, we should realize that the ideal condition for us is to unite our will with God’s will. It should identify itself with God’s will and channel it as faithfully as possible all throughout our earthly sojourn.

We have to realize more deeply that God’s will is the source of everything in the universe. The whole of creation in all its existence, unity, truth, goodness and beauty starts from God’s will and is maintained by it.

The entire range and scope of reality—be it material or spiritual, natural or supernatural, temporal or eternal—is “contained” there, not only theoretically but also ‘in vivo.’ It would be funny if we think we can cope with all the demands of our life by simply relying on our own powers. We have to follow God’s will all the time.

We, therefore, have to do everything to polish and sharpen our sense of obedience to God’s will, especially as we head toward maturity since the years tend to deaden our need for obedience. We have to be more aware of those factors that tend to dull our duty to obey.
In fact, the older we get, and the more accomplished and experienced we feel we are, the sharper should be our sense of obedience and more attentive to its finer demands.

Otherwise, we would simply spoil whatever achievements we have gained. It’s like we are gaining ground on the outside but losing ground on the inside, an echo of “what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul.” A terrible collapse would just be a matter of time.

We need to be strongly reminded about this, since we have to contend with formidable undermining forces—culture, lifestyle, media, the scandalous examples of many in politics, business, and even in the church. We have to be ready to do continuing constructive battle of peace and love in this area.

The model for all this is Christ who frequently said, “My food is to do the will of my Father.” And he did so all the way to the cross. Thus, St. Paul said that Christ was obedient until death.

Deciding who we want to lead our localities is the best blessing of our democracy. We enjoy the free exercise of our sacred right to vote for those who deserve the trust and confidence of our people to run the affairs of government. The choice must be based on ideal parameters that would produce officials who possess the qualification, capability, integrity to perform the functions of the office being aspired for. There too is a need to examine the platform or advocacy that a particular candidate is pushing for that would be a good yardstick of what one will do once elected. But all these are mere ideals of bygone days when elections were truly clean and honest in all aspects, including the voter’s respect to his dignity and honor as a sovereign and rationale being.

It is indeed unfortunate that elections are nothing more than commercial transactions with the sacred vote as commodity of the deal. Candidates no longer worry formulating a program of government for voters no longer care asking for the best platform anyway. Even meetings held by candidates during the campaign do not anymore attract the curiosity and interest of the voters. People would attend to listen only if they are given the best consideration for their presence. We can only find a few who voluntarily go to meetings as a manifestation of responsibility. Most do not anymore care to listen and just decide on choices without knowing well the personalities and issues.

Calls to regain our moral bearings had repeatedly been issued by concerned civic, religious and cause oriented groups. Such appeal to resort to conscience and fight every temptation and influence of money, guns and power ought to be heeded by all and sundry. The call is very timely as people appear to have lost its moorings on morality and the independent and free exercise of his sovereign will. We really need to reexamine ourselves and try answering basic questions regarding our moral values that ought to guide us in the exercise of our sacred right to vote.

Unfortunately, we have seen in the recent past how money plays a crucial role in winning elections. Voters had been used to receiving tokens, pennies and small bills from candidates who want their names written in the official ballot. These candidates pretend to be generous givers to the least of their brethren. They try to downplay vote buying as mere acts of kindness and sharing their riches to their constituents who are expectantly waiting for the election money. Those who have the riches have the decided advantage to win over the poor candidates. But upsets are always possible if voters will only decide to defeat the evil influence of money by voting wisely no matter the bribe, else, we will remain asking if the activity to vote is truly an . . . election?
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