Farm workers
IN an agricultural country, like the Philippines, uplifting the living conditions of farm workers is better said than done.
Agricultural workers, mostly poor farmers and fishermen, comprise the bulk of the more than 110 million population.
They are usually the victims of “loan sharks” and unscrupulous businessmen, who overprice their fertilizer and pesticide.
And with the skyrocketing production cost and low prices of their products, “lagi na lang baon sa utang ang mga Pilipinong ito.”
But to the credit of the government, through concerned offices, there are now programs aimed at helping these workers.
They include the highly-successful National Rice Program and the Rice Competitive Enhancement Fund (RCEF).
President Marcos temporarily headed the Department of Agriculture due to the many problems confronting the sector.
“Inayos muna ni Marcos ang mga problema bago niya inilagay sa puwesto si Francisco Tiu Laurel,” according to a rice farmer.
When he assumed the top political post of the land in 2022, President Marcos ordered the Bureau of Customs to intensify the fight against smuggling.
Specifically, the Ilocano Chief Executive told BOC officials to hit hard at smugglers of rice, vegetable and other agricultural products.
Improving the lot of our farmers, fishermen and other farm workers is a gigantic undertaking but not an impossible mission.
