Senate panel urges gov’t to focus on creating agri, fisheries jobs

The Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food called on government to focus on creating jobs in the agriculture and fisheries sector, adding that doing so would spare the country from threats of a global economic recession. In a statement released Wednesday, Senate committee on agriculture and food chair Sen. Francis Pangilinan cited the International Labour Organization (ILO) urging G20 leaders to “[put] jobs back on top of the global agenda" in order to avoid a double-dip in employment that could spark social unrest in some countries. “The Philippines has been fortunate to have been spared from the effects of global recession in the past few years. This time we have to be ahead of the curve, so to speak," he said, adding that while the business process outsourcing sector has given Filipinos employment opportunities, there is a need to look for more sustainable solutions to social inequalities and unemployment issues. “With nearly half of our GDP coming from agriculture, fisheries and agribusiness enterprises, we cannot continue to ignore the agriculture and fisheries sector and keep our rural population poor," he added. However, the senator also admitted that focusing on the development of the agriculture sector won’t be easy since most Filipinos have a lowly perception of the sector. He called for a paradigm shift to raise the incomes of agriculture and fisheries workers, which would give the local economy a much-needed boost. “By making wise investments and policy reforms in the agriculture, agribusiness, and fisheries sectors, we can generate the jobs that our people need to be able to make a good living at home and be spared the effects of financial crises in other parts of the world," said Pangilinan. — BC/VS, GMA News