ikeseneres

HOW DO WE GO FROM FOOD SECURITY TO FOOD SOVEREIGNTY? When we talk about food security, we usually mean making sure that everyone has enough food to eat. That is a worthy goal, but I believe we should aim higher. If food security is kindergarten, then food sovereignty is college. Food security asks, "Do we have enough food?" Food sovereignty asks, "Can we control our own food system?" The difference is enormous. A country can be food secure today because it can afford to import food. But what happens tomorrow if exporting countries decide to restrict supplies? What happens if geopolitical tensions, climate disasters, wars, or trade disputes disrupt global markets? That is where food sovereignty comes in. Food sovereignty means that people, communities, and nations have the right and the capacity to define their own food and agricultural systems. It is not just about calories. It is about economic power, political independence, cultural identity, and national resilien...

IS PESTICIDE-FREE FARMING POSSIBLE? The jury might still be out on this question, but I have already reached my own verdict: yes, pesticide-free farming is possible. To be clear, I am not advocating the total annihilation of the pesticide industry overnight. What I am looking for is equilibrium—a word that has become one of my favorites. As a political science graduate, I learned that lasting peace often comes from balance. As a former Foreign Service Officer, I learned that successful negotiations are those where both sides walk away "half-happy." Perhaps the same principle can apply to agriculture. For decades, Filipino farmers have been told that they cannot produce enough food without chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Many accepted this as unquestionable truth. Yet growing evidence suggests otherwise. A groundbreaking 10-year study conducted by France's National Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment (INRAE) demonstrated that pesticide-free farming is not ...

HOW COULD WE TAKE REFUSE DERIVED FUELS MORE SERIOUSLY? One of the most overlooked solutions to our garbage and energy problems is Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF). In simple terms, RDF is fuel produced from non-recyclable wastes such as plastics, paper, textiles, and other combustible materials. Instead of burying these materials in landfills or allowing them to pollute our rivers and seas, why not convert them into a valuable source of energy? I believe that a more aggressive RDF policy is essential if we are serious about achieving a circular economy. RDF is directly related to recycling, environmental protection, and pollution reduction. More importantly, it can contribute to our energy independence by replacing imported coal used by cement plants and other heavy industries. At the household level, RDF could even become an alternative to charcoal. If we can develop community-scale technologies that convert biodegradable and combustible wastes into fuel briquettes, we may lessen the demand ...

WHAT IS GREEN PRIVATIZATION? Green privatization is a specialized form of privatization in which the government transfers the ownership, management, or development of natural resources and environmental assets to the private sector with the goal of achieving environmental sustainability. To put it simply, it is an attempt to save the environment using private capital. Why is this becoming popular? The answer is obvious. Environmental protection is expensive. Reforestation, renewable energy projects, watershed rehabilitation, and waste management facilities require billions of pesos. Many governments, including ours, simply do not have enough money, or so it appears. The Philippines already has several examples of green privatization. The privatization of Metro Manila's water services through the concession agreements of Manila Water and Maynilad Water Services, Inc. is one example. The argument in favor of privatization was that private capital could reduce water losses, expand inf...

WHAT IS THE CONNECTION BETWEEN WATERSHEDS, LIVELIHOOD AND AGROFORESTRY? The connection between watersheds, livelihood, and agroforestry is actually obvious, but perhaps some people do not see it very clearly. Up to now, many watersheds in our country are being deforested, resulting in soil erosion, siltation of rivers, and massive flooding. The connection is simple: the more trees are cut, the more soil is washed away by rainwater, and the greater the likelihood of floods. Trees are not merely ornaments in the landscape. They are natural water regulators. Their roots hold the soil together, absorb rainwater, replenish groundwater, and reduce the speed of surface runoff. Remove the trees, and the watershed loses its ability to protect communities downstream. The solution is equally obvious: plant more trees in the deforested areas. Technically speaking, this is called reforestation. However, in my opinion, reforestation should not be limited to merely planting trees. It should also prov...

WHAT ARE THE SUCCESSFUL WILDLIFE CONSERVATION PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS IN THE PHILIPPINES? The Philippines is one of the world's 18 megadiverse countries, yet it is also one of the world's biodiversity hotspots under severe threat. We are home to thousands of endemic species found nowhere else on Earth, but many of them are either endangered or critically endangered. The good news is that we have some successful wildlife conservation stories. Among the most notable is the Philippine Eagle Conservation Program of the Philippine Eagle Foundation in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Through captive breeding, forest protection, and partnerships with indigenous communities, the program has successfully bred and released Philippine Eagles into the wild while protecting vast forest habitats. Another success story is the Philippine Cockatoo Conservation Programme of the Katala Foundation, Inc.. The population of the critically endangered Katala in Rasa ...