THERE are 39 standing committees in the 18th congress (Senate). One is the Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform chaired by Senator Cynthia Villar.
Like any other committee, it needs a knowledgeable if not an expert chairperson capable of formulating a doable way out from the looming food crisis of the country.
No lowball but Villar has minute theoretical knowledge in agriculture and zero practical engagement in the field. Of all sitting Senators, it is Senator Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri that is suited to lead the committee. Being a UP graduate of Agri-business Management degree is his edge; plus, he grew up in a vast agricultural land with the farmers in Bukidnon.
My point of penning a farmer-legislator is to emphasize the importance and urgency to put a true-blue farmer and well-versed from A to Z of agriculture to chair this committee to effectively formulate legislative measures.
The country is confronting a food crisis because of mismanaged agricultural resources. It is evidenced by 3.7 million undernourished population, and still counting!
Let me mention a worthy one to lead. I am not selling a candidate; in fact, we haven’t crossed-path ever in my whole media career, nor have we interacted with each other by any means. In the mid-1980s, I was on college radio then (DXCR-Bukidnon) as newscaster and primetime anchor when I first heard his calm and resonant voice from the airwaves of DXND-Kidapawan as we used to source out some regional bits from them.
His name sounds like in Isaiah 7:14 prophecy, which was transliterated into Greek of the New Testament as “Emmanuel” or “God with us” referring to the Messiah (Jesus Christ).
In the modern setting where millions are starved, we need a messiah (savior) and I am referring to the former DA Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, PhD.
I cannot mention all his accomplishments but his track records as decent media, respectable public servant, dynamic farmer, and a benevolent father will define a “savior” of Philippine agriculture should he be catapulted to the Senate in 2022. abrigodann@gmail.com