Envoy cites collaboration for Phl to address issues

CEBU, Philippines - While the Philippine economy continues to grow at a favorable pace, a foreign trade official said the nation has to address pressing issues and improve some areas in the industry.  

Doron Hemo, Israel’s trade envoy to the Philippines, said the government and other society stakeholders should focus on how to keep the scale of the economy.

In a recent press conference in Cebu, Hemo noted the people in the country -- both from the government and private sector -- have no other ways but to collaborate with one another to solve the current problems.

For instance, the government’s long-time goal to achieve 100 percent rice self-sufficiency is one real challenge.

“This is like a general say that collaboration always leads to better results -- increase the collaboration,” said Hemo of the Embassy of Israel. “We need some  know-how and keep on sharing these, and definitely we come to better results.”

The government has failed to achieve its full rice self-sufficiency target in 2013 and this year.

But, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala already said he believes the government can achieve 100 percent rice self-sufficiency by 2016; although, the Department of Agriculture is expecting a 96 to 98 percent target for this year.

Hemo expressed confidence the country can further increase its potential in the farming industry with the help of some agricultural technologies.

According to the trade attaché, a certain Israeli company that specializes in increasing the yield of agricultural produce -- rice is one -- has been coordinating with the National Rice Institute to examine the rice species in the Philippines.

President Teresa Chan of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry noted the Philippines really needs good technologies for its various industries to increase production by 10 times.

She said: “If we apply these in our industries, we can produce miracles.” — Carlo S. Lorenciana (FREEMAN)