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HOW TO MAKE RICE FARMERS RISE ABOVE POVERTY

HOW TO MAKE RICE FARMERS RISE ABOVE POVERTY What should be the real objective of rice farming? Is it merely to produce more rice, or is it to make rice farmers prosperous and financially secure? To me, the answer should be very clear. The true measure of success in agriculture is not the number of sacks harvested, but whether the farmers themselves are rising above poverty. This issue was highlighted very well by Bacolod businessman Ramon Uy Sr., who pointed out a painful reality that many of us already know but often ignore: farmers do most of the hard work, yet traders often earn the bigger profits. Why is that happening? The answer is simple. Many farmers have no bargaining power. Because of debt and lack of working capital, farmers are usually forced to sell their harvests immediately at very low farmgate prices. They cannot wait for better prices because they urgently need money for food, medicine, tuition, and daily living expenses. In effect, many farmers are trapped in a cycle ...
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CAN PUBLIC HOSPITALS BECOME BETTER THAN PRIVATE HOSPITALS?

CAN PUBLIC HOSPITALS BECOME BETTER THAN PRIVATE HOSPITALS? Many Filipinos probably think that it is impossible for public hospitals to become better than private hospitals. However, that is not a theory anymore because the proof already exists right before our eyes. We already have public institutions such as the Philippine General Hospital, Philippine Heart Center, Lung Center of the Philippines, and the National Kidney and Transplant Institute. These hospitals are considered centers of medical excellence not only in the Philippines but even in Southeast Asia. The question therefore is no longer whether it can be done. The real question is: why are we not doing it everywhere else? Let us face reality. The government as a whole is bigger and financially stronger than any private corporation. If private hospital groups can build modern facilities with advanced equipment, then surely the government can also do the same, perhaps even on a larger scale. What then is preventing many public ...
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USING ANKLE MONITORS FOR PAROLED PRISONERS

USING ANKLE MONITORS FOR PAROLED PRISONERS Why are we not using ankle monitors for paroled prisoners in the Philippines? That question has bothered me for quite some time, especially now that our prison facilities are overflowing far beyond their intended capacities. Some people immediately say that electronic monitoring systems are too expensive, but studies from many countries have already disproven that belief. In fact, keeping a prisoner inside a jail cell is far more expensive than monitoring qualified parolees through ankle bracelets or electronic monitoring devices. Globally, the daily cost of electronic monitoring ranges from about $3 to $36 per day, depending on the technology being used. By comparison, the daily cost of incarceration ranges from about $100 to $130 per prisoner once food, utilities, personnel salaries, healthcare, and maintenance are included. Even in the Philippines, the national budget already allocates about P100 per day for the food of every prisoner, plus...
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LET’S HAVE MORE STAPLE FOODS OTHER THAN RICE

LET’S HAVE MORE STAPLE FOODS OTHER THAN RICE For decades, Filipinos have treated rice almost like a sacred part of every meal. Many of us even joke that if there is no rice on the table, then we have not really eaten yet. However, behind that cultural attachment lies a dangerous reality that we should already be discussing seriously as a nation. I do not want to sound like a broken record, but it is simply not right for an agricultural country like the Philippines to remain heavily dependent on imported rice. In fact, if we were truly maximizing our agricultural potential, we should be exporting rice instead of importing millions of metric tons every year. Current estimates show that the Philippines imports roughly 20 to 30 percent of its rice supply. That means about one-fourth of our staple food depends on foreign countries. To me, that is already a warning sign of food insecurity. What happens if exporting countries suddenly limit their exports because of climate disasters, wars, or...
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HOW TO VISIT THE IMPRISONED AS JESUS SAID

  HOW TO VISIT THE IMPRISONED AS JESUS SAID One of the clearest instructions given by Jesus Christ is found in the Gospel of Matthew: “I was in prison and you visited me.” Yet, despite this command, many Christians today do not know how to begin doing it. The desire is there, but the organized opportunities are few, scattered, and often difficult to access. As I see it, prison visitation should not merely mean entering a jail compound for a few minutes of preaching. It should become a complete ministry of compassion that combines Bible studies, values formation, skills training, medical missions, livelihood assistance, and even the distribution of personal hygiene kits. Prisoners are still human beings. They may have lost their freedom, but they should never lose their dignity. In the Philippines, the correctional system remains heavily congested. Reports from the Bureau of Corrections and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology have repeatedly shown the continuing problem of ov...
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WHAT IS NATION BUILDING?

WHAT IS NATION BUILDING? Many people think that nation building is the exclusive work of governments, presidents, senators, governors, or mayors. I disagree. In my opinion, nation building is the responsibility of every citizen. Traditionally, political scientists define nation building as the process of creating a shared national identity that keeps a country politically stable and socially united. State building focuses on institutions such as laws, taxation, military power, and governance structures. Nation building, on the other hand, focuses on the “soul” of the nation—the emotional and cultural bond that makes people feel they belong to one country. However, I believe that nation building needs more than the power of the state. It needs the power of the people. After all, the people themselves are one of the essential components of a state, together with territory, government, and sovereignty. Without citizens who care, even the strongest government machinery will fail. This mean...
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MANUFACTURED PEARLS: BOON OR BANE FOR THE PHILIPPINES?

MANUFACTURED PEARLS: BOON OR BANE FOR THE PHILIPPINES? For many years, the Philippines proudly carried the title “Pearl of the Orient Seas.” Today, however, a disturbing question is quietly emerging beneath our waters: what happens if technology succeeds in manufacturing pearls so efficiently and cheaply that natural and authentic Philippine pearls lose their rarity and value? Will this become a boon or a bane for the Philippines? At first glance, manufactured pearls appear beneficial. Cultured pearl farming has long provided jobs for divers, technicians, marine biologists, craftsmen, and coastal communities in places like Palawan and Mindanao. Companies such as Jewelmer helped place the Philippine Golden South Sea Pearl among the world’s most prestigious gems. The country is blessed with the gold-lipped oyster known scientifically as Pinctada maxima, one of the rarest pearl-producing oysters in the world. Unlike artificial plastic pearls, genuine cultured pearls still require years of...
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