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OPINIONS hungryfortruth
The Producers’ Predicament by DAN LOUIE JUBAY
simonsays
Praise Freedom by SHAUN PAO
Praise freedom, they said. Then they started to take advantage of it. Article 3 Section 4 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution states: “No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances.” The marketplace of ideas still stands, but its foundations are under attack. For nearly four centuries, this metaphor has represented the belief in a free, honest, and transparent competition, the best ideas always win. In democratic societies, freedom of expression, which encompasses freedom of speech and of the press, draws its protection from that belief. The problem of fake and biased news is not new in the Philippines, where it makes its appearance in most mainstream media, fooling the ignorant and convincing the unconvinced. As it has around the world, the internet in the Philippines has become a morass of fake news and conspiracy theories, harassment and bullying. This has muddied public discourse and cultivated a populist attitude toward democracy. The term ‘fake news’ has taken on a life of its own. False news communicates more clearly more clearly what we’re describing: information that is designed to be confused with legitimate news, and is intentionally false. Newspapers and other media outlets are one of the players in aiding to the resolution of this problem, but it is unfortunate to know that there are some propelled by their own biases, and mislead others to believe them. Because of such, this news are more spread and believed in than the factual ones. What was supposed to be a way of letting the masses know the truth, what was supposed to cure ignorance, has become something troublemakers have settled on in order to confuse others with fact and false. Simply put, the citizens tend to forget the limitations of free expression: we have the right to communicate freely, but without harming another with false statements. A Social Weathers Station (SWS) survey conducted last March 2018 showed that “67 percent of adult Filipinos think fake news in the internet is a serious problem (40 percent very serious and 26 percent somewhat serious) against 13 percent who said it is not serious (nine percent somewhat not serious and four percent not serious at all).” Indeed, despite it being a perennial issue, it is important to note how it greatly affects our society. How can we solve our country’s problems if we ourselves cannot agree on a set of information? It hinders communication between citizens and public organizations, and creates a barrier of distrust between them. And because of that, it also poses a threat to freedom of speech and of the press.
“Use (press freedom) wisely. Empower others to be properly informed, and use informantion for the greater good of the nation. Legislations have been made to act against this, though. Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar has stated during the second Senate panel concerning fake news last January. Existing laws such as Article 154 or the Unlawful Use of Means of Publication and Unlawful Utterances; and Article 355 or Libel by Means of Writings or Similar Means can be tapped by anyone seeking amends against fake news and false information. Rappler executive Maria Ressa also said that there is no need to make a new legislation—only to impose the existing ones. Indeed, in an age where it is hard to tell apart which news holds the facts and which doesn’t, it is important to always push and promote for the truth and factual information. The spreading of fake news isn’t only the responsibility of the government and the press, but us citizens as well. Fake news has become a “floating signifier” that includes, aside from “mis-, dis-, and mal-information”, online political discourse that is one of the avenues where counter discourses are conveyed. For journalists and media organizations, the threat of fake news should spark an honest reflection on our practices and purpose. Fake news is a real threat to freedom of speech and of the press, because it has started to compel political leaders to turn to draconian legislation in an attempt to fight back. Amid the online and offline attacks, journalists and the Philippine press, in general, strive to perform the duty of reporting the truth. Praise freedom—but use it wisely. Empower others to be properly informed, and use information for the greater good of the nation. After all, hearing the ideas of concerned citizens and institutions are far better than having the government control every bit of our word, in fear of fake news overpowering our unity and communication again. As we all know, hearing the ideas of concerned citizens and institutions are far better than having the government control every bit of our word, in fear of fake news overpowering our unity and communication again. The history of the Philippine press is a history of asserting press freedom, especially during times of tyrannical rule. We shall carry on.
With the enactment of the Rice Tarrification Act, rice prices continue to lessen, and farmers continue to struggle against these costs to bring something on their table three times a day. Imagine being the country’s main source food, only to receive a mere hundred pesos in return.
Without other ways of earning, it will not take long before they and their families go hungry, and eventually, their means of living extinct.
RA 11203 or the Rice Tarrification Act is a law newly enacted last March. The law enables tax or tariff payments and rice to be imported without limits, causing its price to decrease and more affordable. It also allows private traders to import rice without needing to regulate their rice’s price. It is also aimed to minimize inflation rates and lessen the effects of shortage of rice supply. While many people can benefit from RA 11203, it is obviously a burden to our local farmers. Since rice will be cheaper, farmers will receive lower income from their product. Consumers are happy with the price drop. Those who defend RA 11203 also state that farmers are consumers of their own produce, and thus benefit from the low rice
price as well. However, the current situation begs to differ—with prices plummeting to as low as P7 per kilo and no higher than P12, farmers are practically groaning. But the Philippines remains agricultural at large; according to the Food and Agriculture Organization, 40 percent of Filipino workers are involved in agriculture, contributing an average of 20 percent to the Gross Domestic Product. This output comes mainly from agribusiness, which in turn accounts for about 70 percent of the total agricultural output. Indeed, the country remains agricultural at large, and the farmers’ crisis pose a threat to what seems to be an extinction of local rice production. According to Senator Francis
intothelens
Pangilinan, many farmers have already suffered. Farm-gate prices of unhusked rice was at P14-18 per kilogram according to the Philippine Statistics Authority. He emphasized that since farmers produce approximately 20 billion kilograms of unhusked rice every year, they would lose about P60 billion of their annual income. This loss of a large amount of money will significantly affect farmers’ lives. Because rice is high on demand and there are tons of cheap imported rice in the market, there’s a tendency that people will choose to buy that instead of our farmers’ products, causing a greater strain to farmers’ livelihood and them eventually losing interest to continue farming because of
their low income. Private traders will also take advantage of the situation because they are no longer subjected to price regulation, hence they can and will increase their rice’s price as they please. Without other means of livelihood, farmers will continue to suffer. To ease the problem at hand, Pangilinan suggests that farmers be given cash assistance from tariff collections. According to him, the extra P10 billion RCEF budget should be given to farmers, along with another P10 billion tariff collected. The Department of Industry is also encouraged to go after private companies, and the Philippines Competitive Comission should investigate rice importers. This actions
by MELIZA ROCAT
Researching the Researcher During the senate budget hearing, Senator Cynthia Villar did not try to hide her contempt on the Department of Agriculture’s proposed budget. “Parang lahat ng inyong budget puro research? Baliw na baliw kayo sa research. Aanhin n’yo ba ‘yung research?” The Senate committee chair on agriculture and food questioning the use of research in her industry? Baffling, to say the least. “Ako matalino akong tao pero hindi ko maintindihan yung research niyo, lalo na yung farmer. Gusto ba ng farmer yung research? Hindi ba gusto nila tulungan niyo sila? Bakit ba lahat ng budget niyo research?” she added. First and foremost, agriculture is a science. Being so requires it to rely on facts, observation, and of course, research, in order to be sustainable to human life. It is unfortunate that we have to be the ones to break it to her that research is integral in developing agriculture, and if funded well can lead to results from which further improvements in production and economy can materialize to aid the sector. Take for example the International Rice Research Institute, its headquarters based in Los Banos, Laguna. Known for its work in developing rice varieties that contributed to the Green Revolution in the 1960s which preempted the famine in Asia, the institute has had massive breakthroughs in the rice industry, and has impacted both food security and rice farming greatly. A report by Australian Centre for International
Agricultural Research in 2011 found that IRRI’s breeding work delivered an annual benefit of US$1.46 billion and boosted rice yields up to 13%. Yet, even with the IRRI in our midst, the Philippines still is one of the greatest rice importers in the world. Ironic, but it only shows how the country lacks supports for research, further demonstrated with politicians’ inimical attitude towards allocation of resources for it, contributing to the poor state of science and technology in the country. “Kung ako farmer, mas gusto ko nang bigyan ako ng seeds, bigyan ako ng machineries kaysa ‘yung mga kung anu-ano.” It is not just about providing seeds and machineries, but providing better seeds and modern machineries that can combat the present challenges the agriculture industry faces. Research is about creating something new and developing them into something better, and it does not come cheap. “For me, research benefits me greatly since through it, you get to learn and know how to solve problems and create something new from it. Research has helped in developing highly intellectual students, and it is no surprise that it is prioritized in RS as an institution whose excellence is science,” said Stephanie Dawn Gador, a grade 10 student of the school and a participant in the Regional Science and Technology Fair (RSTF). Research has even become a subject in secondary education, which only highlights its significance in the present era. Students in Gusa Regional Science High School (GRSHS) concentrate on their research papers for the entirety of their
stay at the school as part of the curricula, specializing in many branches of science. Students also participate in activities such as research congresses and the Science and Technology Fair in order to cultivate critical thinking and knowledge, and encourage application of learning in science in the real world. “Research is applicable in any field, even in education, industry, business, all the more in agriculture,” stated Kim Charies Okit, research teacher of Gusa Regional Science High School (GRSHS) in an interview. “Research requires budget. If not for research our products, methods, and machineries will not improve. Our products cannot keep up or compete to the world market. Even other countries are putting much budget for research,” she added. Okit named countless benefits of research in terms of improving the agriculture sector: increased crop production resulting to lower price, better machineries for improving crop production, animal and tissue culture, among others. With those said, it should be obvious that research is imperative. Research is central to agriculture, as well as all other fields which seek to create benefits and productivity by eliminating guesswork. If Senator Villar cannot see the importance of research, let alone a wellfunded one, then she should first know the basics of science and technology and advancement. Research is something that the Philippines should be more baliw about, in any case.
will purposely stop private companies from keeping their rice prices increasing Without other ways of earning, it will not take long before they and their families go hungry, and eventually, their means of living extinct. Immediate employment should be available to every affected farmer to ease their current situations and prevent any further consequences that can worsen their state. Farmers are our providers of food, so it is only fair that they should be given a lot of benefit because of their hard work. If they will not be able to sustain themselves, they they will not be able to sustain us either.
forum Following the bills proposed by Hon. Alfred Vargas, Hon. Evelina Escudero, and Sen. Grace Poe for a No Homework Policy nationwide last August, this forum gauges whether or not students of Gusa Regional Science High School are for the implementation of said policy.
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I am in favor of the No Homework Policy because it lets us students really relax during weekends with our family and friends instead of being busy with assignments.”
Sam Dela Rosa, Grade 10
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Yes, because I believe that the time we had in school is long enough for academic and school thingies we had in a day. Students also need to have time with their families, church and other activities.”
Hannah Padinit, Grade 9
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No because even if the students won’t have homework, teachers will then give all the tasks at once during school hours and it will stack all day until it gets too tiring to do them.”
John Paul Estares, Grade 11
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No. Because we can’t finish some works on time.”
Sofia Madula, Grade 9
The continuous acts of violence that rock Mindanao is more than the dead and the defaced, but an indication that this region has long strived for a chance at peace.
caught in crossfire
Piece of Peace
by JAMES PUNSALAN
The Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (OLBARMM) or the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) passed by the Duterte administration stems from years of peace negotiations with rebel groups in Mindanao. It is the renewed version of the Bangsamoro Basic Law. The law will address these groups’ concerns and demands. It is necessary in order for them to have a harmonious relationship with the government. As stated above, the law is meant to hear out the sentiments and grievances of Muslims living in Mindanao. University of the Philippines professor Jamel Cayamodin revealed provinces in the ARMM region are one of the poorest sectors, so a law where its people can directly ask the government for help is important.
However, there are objections against the OLBARMM. Coming from certain local government units of the affected areas, as well as the Moro National Liberation Front headed by Nur Misuari who governed the ARMM for years after the MNLF signed a peace agreement. These groups push for federalism instead of the ratification of OLBARMM. On the flip side of the coin, proponents of the BOL emphasize that the ratification of the law would be a step in securing peace for Mindanao. Expected to play huge roles in the BARMM is the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, of whom they vow to handle extremist threats posed by the Mautes, Abu Sayyaf, and the Bangsamoro Islamc Freedom Fighters. OLBARMM will end rebellion for good, as the provisions it includes are acceptable to rebels and the government. During a peace deal in
2014, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) group swore to stop its rebellion once the government commit to OLBARMM. Non-Muslims will say that the law is will be taken advantage of to cause battle in the region, but that is far from the truth. The law exists so these people will live a better quality of life because, as mentioned before, they are one of the poorest people in Mindanao. So if they get the provisions they need they will stop causing terror. For years the law had been reinvented to accommodate not just the Islamic groups but also the government, and for years the attempt failed, until now. The OLBARMM is exactly what the country needs to finally put a stop to crises in the South—a sure step into a future that ensures peace that Mindanao has fought for.