Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — According to a Social Weather Station (SWS) survey nearly 8 out of 10 Filipinos will vote for a Presidential candidate with platforms on food and agriculture.
Four agriculture-related questions in the nationwide survey, conducted on the 3rd quarter of 2015 from September 2 to 5, were contributed by the environmental group Greenpeace Philippines.
According to the survey, 75 percent of the 1,200 respondents will support presidential candidates with tangible plans on food security with 70 percent of respondents going for those with plans on sustainable ecological farming.
The survey contains items anchored on two main points.
Issues that would make one vote for a candidate, and agricultural issues that the government should focus on.
Interestingly, food security and agriculture are some of the top issues that respondents want candidates to address.
The continuation of the conditional cash transfer 4Ps or Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program tops the list of issues, with 80 percent of respondents preferring that candidates focus on that.
76 percent of respondents say they will vote for a candidate that can ensure that the needs of the farmers are met, while 75 percent prefer a candidate who can ensure that food needs are met.
The survey says that agricultural issues are a more immediate concern to the respondents compared to other issues such as:
The amendment of the constitution (64 percent)
Enactment into law of the FOI Bill with (48 percent)
Enactment into law of the Anti-Political Dynasty Bill with (46 percent)
Enactment into law of the BBL with (31 percent)
and enactment into law of divorce with only (26 percent).
The top agricultural issues that the respondents believe to be important are boosting financial support for farmers to make a resilient farming climate (44 percent), increasing financial support in buying fertilizer (43 percent), and supporting ecological agriculture such as organic farming (39 percent).
Sustainable agriculture
According to Rafael Mariano, Chairperson of Kilusan ng mga Magsasakang Pilipino, organic and ecological farming remain marginal in the country, and it is high time for the government to focus on its development.
“In recent decades, the promotion of agricultural liberalization and corporatization has also intensified the condition where toxic chemicals and engineered organisms bear down on the Filipino farmers and consumers and their efforts to promote socially-desirable practices including organic, sustainable and ecological agriculture,” said Mariano.
NEDA Director Mercedita Sombilla said the government’s investment in ecological agriculture is significant in ensuring sustainability and the food security of the population especially now that we are bracing for the effects of El Nino or drought forecasted by PAGASA.
Greenpeace said the survey speaks for the real issues that Filipinos want the government to deal with, hence the candidates should take it seriously and formulate doable plans to address the issues on food security and agriculture.
CNN Philippines’ Paolo del Rosario contributed to this report.
