Marlen V Ronquillo’s Old And William Dar’s New Thinking For Agriculture

It occurs to me early this morning, 0600 hours Tuesday, 30 June 2020 in Manila, that I am not at rest yet with Marlen V Ronquillo’s Manila Times column of 28 June 2020, “In A Prostrate Sector, Vileness Does Not Rest” after I came out with my earlier essay, “Marlen V Ronquillo – I Agree With You, “In A Prostrate Sector, Vileness Does Not Rest[1]” (29 June 2020, THiNK Journalism, Digital). I have something much more to say about Mr Ronquillo’s claim below:

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is so engrossed with propaganda and image building that it totally jettisoned its legal and moral mandate to help the small farmers.

Should be written “image-building” – hyphen necessary. But that is minor. The major point is this:

Yes, Mr Ronquillo, I can tell you that the DA under Secretary of Agriculture William Dar/Manong Willie has been “so engrossed with propaganda and image-building” for Philippine agriculture!

“Propaganda,” says my favorite American Heritage Dictionary, means “The systematic propagation of a doctrine or cause or of information reflecting the views and interests of those advocating such a doctrine or cause[2].”

Yes, Manong Willie calls it “The New Thinking For Agriculture” and I have been writing much about it (try this: “Revolutionizing PH Agriculture And How We Write About It – Manong Willie & Frank H[3]”). When he was appointed on 05 August 2019 as Secretary, Manong Willie already had with him ready “The New Thinking for Agriculture” that must emanate from considering interrelationships of the “8 Paradigms” as he called them (my listing):

(1) Modernization.
(2) Industrialization.
3) Promotion of exports.
(4) Consolidation of small- and medium-sized farms
(5) Infrastructure development.
(6) Higher budget & investment.
(7) Legislative support.
(8) Roadmap development.

Now you know why Secretary of Agriculture William Dollente Dar has been not only all over the place but all over the country!

In fact, I feel that the propaganda has barely started. It will take us up to 2022 to fully explain and exemplify what all those 8 paradigms mean and must signify!

I repeat what you said earlier in your column:

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is so engrossed with propaganda and (image-building) that it totally jettisoned its legal and moral mandate to help the small farmers.

Like I said, Mr Ronquillo, you have not been reading. After all the image of those unhappy years of PH agriculture, we need a new image of farmers now smiling widely because they know that the DA is helping them with much government funds allocated for their welfare, especially during this pandemic lockdown, where everything is abnormal.

I repeat, Mr Ronquillo, how on earth can one explain in just one sitting and one place all those 8 paradigms in Manong Willie’s mind? Aside from the DA, other government agencies must know and understand all those paradigms so that they can relate to any of them properly – must also be involved are local government units and the private sector.

Must also involve? Columnists like you!@517


[1]https://ithinkjournalism.blogspot.com/2020/06/marlen-v-ronquillo-i-agree-with-you-in.html
[2]https://www.thefreedictionary.com/propaganda
[3]https://ithinkjournalism.blogspot.com/2020/06/revolutionizing-ph-agriculture-and-how.html


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