ikeseneres

IS IT TIME TO SHIFT FROM OLD FARMERS TO NEW AGRIPRENEURS? Mr. Rei Marquez of Radar.ph has issued a warning that we cannot afford to ignore: “Our farmers are facing extinction, and the Philippine countryside is dying with them.” I agree with him 100 percent. He cites data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showing that national population growth has slowed to 0.80% from 2020 to 2024, down from 1.63% in the previous five years. Meanwhile, the farm populations of provinces such as Marinduque, Romblon and Mountain Province are shrinking as young people leave for the cities. The Commission on Population and Development has even sounded the alarm over rural depopulation. But here is the most disturbing statistic: the average Filipino farmer is now 57 to 59 years old. As Mr. Marquez wrote, “In less than 12 years, we won’t be debating food prices—we will be wondering who is left behind to till the soil at all.” That statement should send chills down our spine. The children of these farme...

HOW MANY DAYS OF OIL RESERVES SHOULD A COUNTRY HAVE? By now, every Filipino should read and re-read the warning of Mr. Butch Cabanban in his March 1, 2026 piece, “National Emergency: The Oil Truth.” I agree with him 100 percent. He did not mince words. He wrote of our “absolute lack of preparation” and declared bluntly: “ZERO GOVERNMENT RESERVES.” That is a frightening statement for a country of 115 million people that imports nearly 90% of its crude oil—mostly from the Middle East. As Mr. Cabanban pointed out, we are relying solely on the 30-day Minimum Inventory Requirement (MIR) of private oil companies. Thirty days. That is not strategy; that is wishful thinking. The global gold standard, particularly among members of the International Energy Agency (IEA), is 90 days of net oil imports. Some island nations even aim for 120 days. The logic is simple. Ninety days buys time—time to stabilize prices, time to negotiate supply routes, time to shift to alternatives. Without that buffer, ...