GATT-UR and Philippine Agriculture: Facts and Fallacies

GATT-UR provisions on agriculture have been most controversial. Its ratification depends on the establishment of adequate “safety nets” to protect farmers from the anticipated adverse welfare impacts of the GATT-UR implementation. This paper argues that the global and Philippine trade liberalization in the spirit of GATT-UR will benefit the poor and farmers. Senate should therefore ratify the agreements to allow the government to attend their business of carrying out economic and institutional reform for sustainable economic growth.agriculture sector, General Agreement on Tariff and Trade, rural sector

GATT-UR and Philippine Agriculture: Facts and Fallacies

GATT-UR provisions on agriculture have been most controversial. Its ratification depends on the establishment of adequate “safety nets” to protect farmers from the anticipated adverse welfare impacts of the GATT-UR implementation. This paper argues that the global and Philippine trade liberalization in the spirit of GATT-UR will benefit the poor and farmers. Senate should therefore ratify the agreements to allow the government to attend their business of carrying out economic and institutional reform for sustainable economic growth.agriculture sector, General Agreement on Tariff and Trade, rural sector

Constraints to Food Security: The Philippine Case

Over the past two decades, the Philippine economic growth has been erratic and lower than most developing countries in Asia. The agriculture sector has not performed well since 1980s, hence losing its comparative advantage. Recommendations of Congressional Commission on Agricultural Modernization is adopted through the Agricultural and Fisheries Modernization Act which spells out the need for policy and institutional reforms and setting up of public expenditures program. High food prices affect the food security of the large majority of the poor and distorted price incentives lead to lower sectoral and economy-wide income. To address market failure in the agriculture sector, there is therefore a need to implement appropriate policies with respect to trade and exchange rate policies, financial markets, intellectual property rights and biosafety. In addition, the paper cites the need for a cost-effective public expenditure program in research and extension, irrigation and market infrastructure. Efficient institutional frameworks for property rights and government bureaucracy are also suggested.agriculture sector, food price stability

Philippine Rice Supply and Demand: Prospects and Policy Implications

Over the past three decades, the level and nature of government interventions and the relative importance of policy objectives have changed in response to changes in the domestic rice demand and supply factors. This paper analyzes the changes in the Philippine rice economy during the period and evaluates the policy options in light of the prospective rice supply and demand situation over the next decade and beyond.price distortion, price incentives, agriculture sector, price intervention, rice commodities

An Analysis of Fertilizer Policies in the Philippines

The Philippines does not have a comparative advantage in the domestic production of fertilizer. This is one of the thoughts conveyed by the article as it analyzes the government policies affecting fertilizer prices during the post-war period, with a focus on the policies after 1973. In addition, there has been no attempt to relate the distribution of protection to the efficiency of firms. Upon analysis, the study predicts that only efficient firms would survive so that the subsidies given to inefficient firms can be allocated to economic activities that will raise the profitability of agriculture.tariff, trade sector, fertilizer industry

Distortions to Agricultural Incentives in the Philippines

Distorted incentives, agricultural and trade policy reforms, national agricultural development, Agricultural and Food Policy, International Relations/Trade, F13, F14, Q17, Q18,

The Philippine Hybrid Rice Program: A Case for Redesign and Scaling Down

Promotion of hybrid rice has been the central goal of the government's rice production program since 2001. Yet, farmers' adoption rate has remained low despite concerted efforts and massive subsidies. The highly subsidized approach of the program has been not just ineffective but costly in terms of wasting scarce budgetary resources, compromising the government's regulatory functions, promoting corruption, and distorting farmers' choice of varieties. The government should remove the present system of subsidies on hybrid seeds and related agricultural inputs which are all private goods in nature.rice varieties, hybrid rice, hybrid rice program