JUST when Duterte said there's nothing to worry about nCoV because the reported deaths in the country are "imported" or foreigners, comes the news that three dead pigs in Calinan District are infected with African Swine Fever.
There seems to be no escape now, whether the death is "imported" or domestic, we live in the times when global trade, a local flu and K-Pop connects us all.
Panic will not help, of course. So it's better to quarantine ourselves from fake news, and from TitoSen who showed a conspiracy video about virus.
But for the meantime, what does the swine fever mean to us, consumers? I'm sure your friends and relatives will tell you now is the right time to join them in their vegan or organic diets.
But for traders in the pork industry, it's a huge loss. I just found out that the Davao pork industry estimates a loss of P20 billion. If Congressmen, who value their pork barrel hears about this, they'll go nuts and try to save the pork.
Health officials do give a practical solution, eat healthy. But then, that's the problem, you want to eat healthy food, but farmers are suffering enough because of laws and policies that they can't serve the food you need.
The rice liberalization has resulted to Filipino farmers losing P61.77 billion in 2019, according to the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice).
Agriculture is a vital industry, the environment group Kalikasan reports it contributes P212.8 billion annually to the economy.
But the problem is how government neglects this sector. Aside from the Rice Liberalization, there is prioritization of agri-business, and conversion of agricultural lands into subdivisions and industrial zones.
Not to mention, in Lumad areas there are more detachments and paramilitary troops planted there rather than palay.
And when you say protect the farms, Senator Villar, the proponent of the rice liberalization, has other plans. I agree with health activists who says she is the one who needs research and to drink more milk so she can realize how her plans of farm conversion and liberalization has triggered more problems from climate change to massive hunger, and also more dumber solutions.
I guess the way to save our health is also political, to call out our lawmakers for prioritizing profits, political agenda and conspiracy videos over public interest.