This appeared on my newsfeed and it went viral. I made a point to read the article first before i react.
Unfortunately, the title of the news does not do justice for the Senator, and it is me, i do not like her.
In theory, she is correct, we cannot stop building houses and factories because it will hamper the progress of our economy and let's face it, Philippines is an overpopulated, unemployed, third world/ developing country. She pointed out that those within cities should have these industrial, commercial and residential establishments while agricultural activities and businesses should be outside these aforementioned places... thus, the Farm to Market road concepts.
However, we cannot deny the fact that food and the scarcity of it is an issue in our country. There should be a renewed proposal for the comparative advantage of having food resources. Her example of Israel is generally flawed because we should not compare our topographic and geographic advantage to the challenges of the comparable country. We already have the necessary ingredients for a technologically advanced agricultural venture.
She forgot to mention that while we could plant agricultural products hanging in the air, it would still need a lot of real estate for it to be a viable answer for food scarcity which makes her argument moot because the land would then still be reserved for agricultural purposes.
Comparative advantage and government subsidy together with her "technologically sound agricultural process " should be top priority for legislation because it would answer a lot of problems facing the population of this country.
The first problem that is answered is food scarcity, focusing on agricultural products would eventually answer the lack of food being experienced in this country.
The second problem to be addressed is employment; a lot of people would venture to agricultural business once they find that it is a profitable investment, imagine unemployed or low income individuals would opt to leave so that they could work in farm lands located outside the cities thereby reducing the unnecessary population in the cities
The third problem solved would be decongesting the urban areas; providing for food, employment and being located outside of the urban cities would mean a better commercial or industrial activities in different economic centers of the country.
I am sure there are a lot more arguments or assertions but looking at it quickly, such solutions are not impossible.
So again.
The title does not do her justice, i still do not like her.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1329682/villar-they-say-do-not-convert-farmlands-to-build-houses-that-is-wrong
