Entrepreneurial Farmer

Ambrosio R. Villorente

Aklan Budget For Agriculture Is Tiny

What is happening to our society today? In what stage is morality among the Filipinos, particularly in Aklan? 

In Nabas, Aklan, a public school teacher is alleged to have sexually molested his 12 years old pupil. Until today, the Department of Education has done nothing on the said case of immorality to have been allegedly committed by a teacher who is supposed to lead in the preservation and maintenance of morality and decency. If a teacher is immoral, who else are not? 

If true, the schools may not be doing its mandate in educating our people to secure decency and morality in Philippine society, particularly in Aklan. Moreover, there are some members of society who blemish the good image of the schools. 

For that teacher in Nabas who allegedly sexually molested his 12 years old pupil must be meted sanction as soon as possible if true. The pertinent laws applicable to his case must be applied according to its purpose and intent. 

At least, his case must be looked into. He must be suspended from the service while his case is under litigation. 

On the other hand, the parent of that alleged victim must be required to answer why they must not be penalized for their failure to inculcate to their child good moral conduct. Why did they allow their daughter to sleep with someone in some other’s house?

Aklan Tourism

Aklan tourism is progressing. It is booming. Boracay Island is booming. More people are visiting Aklan because of Boracay’s ideal water, sand, and sun. Both foreigners and Filipinos are visiting Boracay. They arrive via air, water and land transportation.

This influx of visitors to Aklan is good for the operators of both air, land and water transportation. It is good for hotel, restaurant and resort owners and producers of gifts and souvenir items. It is good for farmers who produce more food like vegetables, fruits, corn and rice, chicken and eggs.

It is also good for the government for it can collect more taxes. Malay, where Boracay Island belongs, collects higher taxes than any LGU’s in Aklan. Malay’s budget is twice higher than that of Kalibo, the capital town.

On the other hand, for those who sells nothing to the visitors, sorry for them. Those who produce nothing and sell nothing are experiencing traffic problem, higher risk along the road, increased cost of food like beef, pork, eggs, chicken meat, fruits, vegetables, among others. Rice locally produced is becoming inadequate. 

To enable all the Aklanons enjoy tourism boom in Aklan, they must engage in the production of food, even flowers, souvenir and gift items. LGU Aklan must help Aklanons produce these goods both in technical and financial assistance. 

Aklan’s budget for Agriculture is tiny. It must be increased. The P10.8 million budget for agriculture is just enough for salaries and wages of agriculture personnel. 

It is hard to imagine why only that scanty amount is appropriated for agriculture out of the P1.3 billion Aklan LGU budget for 2014. I believed the budgeting must be balanced for the twin program: Agriculture and Tourism of Aklan. /MP