Why has Penn, Tennis ball maker moved from China to Mindanao, Philippines

It is more fun criticizing

The reasons:

1.  Becaue of demographics.  Average age of factory workers in China is 53, in Phl it is 23.

2.  Nearness to source of raw materials -  rubber trees in Mindanao.  Also younger farmers

3.  Peace and order:   no border disputes unlike in Thailand and even internally

We are losing farmers due to 4ps?

It is more fun criticizing

In  a TV news program it was reported that many farmers have abandoned farming:   1.   because it is hard;  2.  farmers lose their investments and loans due to unscrupulous traders.   3.   It is better to wait for ayuda from 4ps

Elsewhere in the world many go to farming because it is profitable, they are on mechanized farming.  They produce food more than what the country needs.

Elsewhere the mindset is that of plenty rather than scarcity

The only alternative is more efficient corporate farming

I was one of the thousands stranded by floods Wednesday afternoon

It is more fun criticizing

Rizal Philippines  |  October 4, 2014



From Inquirer News

I was one of the thousands stranded last Wednesday September 30, 2014 after heavy downpour due to a thunderstorm flooded parts of MM:    Aurora Blvd, Santolan and Ortigas.  I was supposed to see someone at 4:30 pm in Cubao. Rain started pouring in torrents coupled with thunder and lightning.

Despite the heavy rains, there was a wave of humanity:   FEU NU Ateneo de La Salle fans waiting for a basketball game.  It took me almost 30 minutes to reach farmers.

Being an RM awardee/hero, could be done by anyone

Social and political criticisms

The RM awardee on agriculture who helped double the productivity of farmers by employing technology should inspire everyone to adapt new methods of farming.

The seeds, fertilizer, and technology are available.

A seeds company (it was strama paper) in GSC sells corn seeds that ups yield of corn farms from 4tons@hectare to l6 tons;  Henry Lim, sells seeds that yields 300 cavans@hectare vs 100 cavans from existing IRRI rice strain. The SL - 8

Why are they not being used?

l.  Lack of access/knowledge by farmers;

2.  The usual thing -  lack of credit

3.  And then the closed mind.  Change is a painful process to implement.  Resistance.
We have done this way ever since.  Those were the days my friend.

But no one, or very few remember the farmers;  their names are used for scams and graft and corruption.  Let us lift them up like Mr. Davide, the RM awardee who helped farmers.   

Was the Agrarian Reform Program Successful?

This nation can be great again

Yesterday, the new DAR secretary was interviewed on the radio.  He entertained many questions that were texted by the listeners and he adroitly answered many of them, uncharacteristic of a technocrat;  more befitting a politician perhaps.

Some questions:

l.  Were the hectareage and number of beneficiaries KRA targets reached?

2.  Did the program emancipate the farmers ?  how many became legitimate landowners (the Land Bank loan fully paid for).  From the looks of it, many have not started their amortizations yet because the land that was land reformed has not been subdivided yet.  Many sold their CLT especially in Calabarzon sold out to developers.

Did the program help in the food security?

Did the program help increase food production?

Did the program help reduce incidence of poverty?  As we all know most of the farmers are in the poverty level?

Otherwise, the vaunted centerpiece of earlier administration would have been another case of political showmanship (circus?}  I hope not.  We wish our farmers the best.

The poor and the farmers name and their votes have been used many times to win elections?