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Modernizing the agriculture sector holds the key to reducing, if not eliminating, rural poverty in the Philippines. And part of the modernization process is farm diversification or a more balanced agricultural production that is not necessarily focused on the rice sector.

During his 4th State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Rodrigo Duterte asked Congress to pass a new Salary Standardization Law that will raise the pay of government workers, including public school teachers. This is not just the fulfillment of a promise he made during the election campaign but a recognition of the hard work and sacrifice of teachers. This well-deserved salary increase is a recognition of the role of public school teachers in shaping the mind of the youth and building the foundation of a strong future for our country.

The Philippine economy may not have a stellar performance this year, given the unimpressive figures in the first two quarters of 2019. But I believe this is not a disappointing turn of events compared with where the rest of Asia’s economy is headed.