Agri-crop diversification: ASEAN scorecards

Agri-crop diversification: Asean scorecards By: Rolando T. Dy – @inquirerdotnet Philippine Daily Inquirer / 12:19 AM June 27, 2016 Poverty is high in the Philippines for two main reasons.  First, farm productivity is low which leads to low income. Second, crop-diversification is poor and as a result, export performance is stymied. Fragmented farm production does not support a robust

Rice Smuggling: What is the Real Score?

Rice smuggling: What is the real score? By: Rolando T. Dy – @inquirerdotnet 12:00 AM May 09, 2016 THE ISSUE of smuggling keeps popping up in newspaper headlines and television newscasts. The Senate even held a hearing on the subject last Feb. 24. An industry group claimed some 2,772,142 metric tons of rice were smuggled from 2010 to

Agri Exports: Scorecard of Presidents

MAPPING THE FUTURE Agri exports: Scorecard of presidents By: Rolando T. Dy – @inquirerdotnet 12:00 AM May 02, 2016 THE POOR performance of Philippine agriculture exports is a sad narrative. Expanding exports are key to agricultural growth and diversification. Data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN) show that the Philippine record is

Forgotten but promising fruits

Opinion Posted on April 25, 2016 08:59:00 PM Forgotten but promising fruits M.A.P. Insights Rolando T. Dy The tamarind juice from a convenience chain was great. It was made in Thailand. It was a new offering and a winner even if pricey. Thailand has made product development a mantra, and the OTOP (one-town, one-product) concept

Ilocos Region, its future

MAPPING THE FUTURE Ilocos Region, its future By: Rolando T. Dy – @inquirerdotnet Philippine Daily Inquirer / 12:36 AM April 18, 2016 THE ILOCOS Region comprises four provinces—Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union and Pangasinan—and nine cities— Alaminos,  Batac, Candon, Dagupan, Laoag, San Carlos, San Fernando, Urdaneta and Vigan. It has a land area of

Northern Mindanao, in search of inclusive growth

MAPPING THE FUTURE Northern Mindanao, in search of inclusive growth By: Rolando T. Dy – @inquirerdotnet Philippine Daily Inquirer / 03:17 AM March 21, 2016 Northern Mindanao (Region X) comprises five provinces—Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, Lanao del Norte, Bukidnon and Misamis Occidental—and nine cities—Cagayan de Oro (CDO), El Salvador, Gingoog, Iligan, Malaybalay, Oroquieta, Ozamis, Tangub and

Holidays are anti-poor

Posted on March 14, 2016 10:49:00 PM Holidays are anti-poor M. A. P. Insights Rolando T. Dy This country has just too many holidays for its level of development. There are national holidays (public, religious, and cultural) and local holidays (provincial, city, and towns). I counted 17 official national holidays declared in 2015, excluding regional