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WHO IN THE PHILIPPINES CAN CERTIFY THAT FOOD IS GENUINELY ORGANIC?

WHO IN THE PHILIPPINES CAN CERTIFY THAT FOOD IS GENUINELY ORGANIC? In many countries, the answer is simple: the government itself certifies what is organic. In the United States, for example, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) directly sets and enforces certification. But here in the Philippines, the situation is more complicated—and, to my mind, more confusing than it should be. Under Republic Act No. 10068 and its amendment Republic Act No. 11511, the Department of Agriculture (DA) does not certify farms or products directly. Instead, through the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards (BAFS), it accredits private and community-based certifying bodies. Why is that so? I still find it difficult to accept that when it comes to something as critical as food safety and public health, the government would step back and allow others to take the lead role in certification. Is this efficiency—or is this, in effect, a form of privatization? Today, there are two recognized pathway...
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HOW COULD LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS FINANCIALLY SUPPORT LOCAL COOPERATIVES?

HOW COULD LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS FINANCIALLY SUPPORT LOCAL COOPERATIVES? We often see Local Government Units (LGUs) giving cash aid to individuals as a response to poverty. That is good, of course—but I now ask: is that enough? Or are we simply treating the symptoms rather than the disease? If we truly want lasting economic change, I believe the answer lies elsewhere—in empowering cooperatives. Under the Local Government Code of 1991 and the Philippine Cooperative Code of 2008, LGUs are not only allowed but actually mandated to promote economic self-reliance. That includes supporting cooperatives. Yes, they are technically private enterprises—but they serve a public purpose. That is the legal bridge that allows public funds to support them. In simple terms, when LGUs help cooperatives, they are investing in community livelihood, not giving away money. But how exactly can this be done? First, let us talk about direct financial support. LGUs can provide seed funding or grants, especiall...
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HOW MUCH OF SYNTHETIC DIESELS COULD WE REPLACE WITH BIODIESELS?

HOW MUCH OF SYNTHETIC DIESELS COULD WE REPLACE WITH BIODIESELS? We all feel it every time global tensions rise: fuel prices go up, and we are left at the mercy of forces beyond our control. As an importing country, we can complain—but we cannot dictate oil prices. Or can we? There is, in fact, a practical response right in front of us: biodiesel. The real question is not whether we can use it, but how much of our synthetic diesel we can realistically replace. In my own estimate, a 20% replacement is not only possible—it is already within reach. Let us begin with what is technically feasible. Most diesel engines today can run on what is called B20—a blend of 20% biodiesel and 80% petroleum diesel—without any modification. In fact, this blend is often described as the “sweet spot” because it balances engine safety, emissions reduction, and cost efficiency. Lower blends like B5 can be used almost universally, without anyone even noticing the difference. So from an engineering standpoint,...
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WHAT CAN A BROWN REVOLUTION DO FOR OUR FOOD SECURITY?

WHAT CAN A BROWN REVOLUTION DO FOR OUR FOOD SECURITY? We have long celebrated the success of the Green Revolution. More seeds, more chemicals, more water—more food. But I now ask a simple question: at what cost, and for how long? If the Green Revolution is what we see above the ground, then the so-called “Brown Revolution” is what lies beneath our feet—the soil. And perhaps that is precisely where the real battle for food security is being fought. Let me put it bluntly: without living soil, there is no agriculture. And yet, for decades, we have treated soil as if it were nothing more than a lifeless medium to hold plants upright while we pour chemicals into it. That, to me, is not farming—it is mining. The irony is painful. Fertilizers were meant to solve hunger, but their excessive use has led to what scientists now call “soil fatigue.” The land produces, yes—but only with increasing doses of external inputs. It is like a patient surviving on life support. So, what does a Brown Revolu...
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HOW COULD ROOTCROPS POSSIBLY SAVE US FROM HUNGER AND EVEN FAMINE?

HOW COULD ROOTCROPS POSSIBLY SAVE US FROM HUNGER AND EVEN FAMINE? We often think of rice, corn, and wheat as the pillars of human survival. In countries like the Philippines, rice is not just food—it is identity. But history, science, and even common sense are quietly telling us something uncomfortable: depending too much on a single staple is a dangerous gamble. Consider a story from 1770. When Captain James Cook’s ship, the HMS Endeavour , struck the Great Barrier Reef, his crew was stranded for weeks along the Australian coast. Their survival did not depend on imported seeds or stored grain. Instead, it hinged on what nature had already prepared for them—root crops like wild taro and yams. These humble plants, growing quietly in swampy ground, provided the starch, nutrients, and resilience that kept the crew alive long enough to repair their ship. That story is not just history. It is a warning—and perhaps a blueprint. Root crops—cassava, sweet potato, taro, yam, even lesser-known o...
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WHAT ARE FISHING COMMUNITIES AND HOW COULD WE HELP THEM?

WHAT ARE FISHING COMMUNITIES AND HOW COULD WE HELP THEM? In a country of more than 7,000 islands like the Philippines, it would be safe to say that many of our coastal communities are, by default, fishing communities. But let us not simplify them too much. These are not just clusters of houses by the sea—they are living socio-economic ecosystems , where culture, livelihood, and survival revolve around one thing: fish. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources often reminds us that small-scale fishers provide a significant portion of the fish we eat daily. Yet ironically, they are among the poorest sectors in our society. That is the inconvenient truth. Another inconvenient truth is even more alarming: in many areas, fish stocks are declining or already depleted . Add to that the reality of climate change—stronger typhoons, rising seas, and coastal erosion—and we begin to see a picture that is not just about poverty, but about survival. There is also a hidden problem that many do no...
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SULFUR SHORTAGE IS THE HIDDEN PROBLEM BEHIND THE OIL CRISES

SULFUR SHORTAGE IS THE HIDDEN PROBLEM BEHIND THE OIL CRISES Everyone is talking about oil. Rising prices, supply disruptions, geopolitical tensions—these dominate the headlines. But what if the real problem is not oil itself? What if the bigger crisis is something we barely talk about— sulfur ? Sulfur is what I would call an “invisible reagent.” We do not pour it into our fuel tanks, yet without it, modern civilization cannot function. In fact, sulfur—more precisely sulfuric acid—is often described as the most produced industrial chemical in the world . That alone should tell us how important it is. So what does sulfur actually do? First, it is essential in oil refining . Without sulfuric acid, refineries cannot produce high-octane, cleaner fuels. Ironically, if sulfur becomes scarce, even available crude oil cannot be fully processed. In other words, a sulfur shortage can trigger an oil crisis , not just accompany it. Second, sulfur is critical for agriculture . It is used to convert ...
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