A resounding yes to “Hope in agriculture” (Editorial, 5/24/20). As a country with vast untapped agricultural lands and abundant bodies of water, we need to revive the agriculture sector. And this global pandemic made us realize the unlimited potentials of our fertile lands that have been taken for granted all these years. Republic Act No. 8435 or the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act of 1997 was never passed into law to mean nothing. Where are we on the road map in terms of modernization of the mentioned sector? As an agricultural country, the Philippines could rise from this pandemic if we could put in place, with seriousness, highly needed reforms that encourage the development of an agriculture-driven economy.

Docena-Asuelo, B. (2020, June 3). Agriculture can save the Philippines from COVID-19 havoc. Philippine Daily Inquirer, p. A9.