Let's Walk the Talk!

It’s Now or Never! 

The strong discussions on food security, poverty, climate change and all related issues have become the hot topic today after the hit of an earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Right and left symposiums and seminars were being held by people concerned on the knowhow of disasters, the effect of calamities, its preparations to overcome the event, its implications, the things on what to do and the like.

Recently, the Vice President of the Philippines Jejomar Binay was invited as guest of honor and speaker in Negros Oriental State University’s (NORSU) Symposium on “Poverty Alleviation and Climate Change” last March 16, 2011. With him is Senator Miguel Zubiri.

Among the line up of speakers during the said forum are Silliman President Dr. Ben Malayang III, former Negros Oriental Third District Rep. Herminio Teves, Dr. Gil Villancio of the University of the Philippines in Los Banos, Laguna, Department of Agriculture Undersecretary Joel Rudinas, Dr. Juan Serana of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and Metals Industry Research Development Director Engr. Francisco Dime.

All of them have had their own talk related to the topic concerned. The topics discussed during the said convention are current issues on food security, poverty and climate change.

All other issues talked about include “Best Agricultural Practices for the Rural Areas”, “Converting Alienable and Disposable Lands to Agricultural Lands”, “Bio-Diesel Program, from Jatropha Cureas and Its Processing”, “Studies on Mechanical Equipment for Agriculture Using Bio-fuel”, “Food Productivity Using Public Lands”, and “Addressing Poverty, Climate Change, and Food Security in the Province and Country”.

It seems that such topics and concerns are addressed properly with their well-researched discussions, but the question remains they will be able to apply it effectively or will they ever do what they were saying?

It’s nice and wonderful to listen to impressive discussions especially concerning on the topics food security, poverty, climate change and the like. However, the problem most of the time is that these were tend to be talked only and not applied in action. Though there were others which came into reality but most of them remain to be just blown on air during a speaking ceremony and were consumed by listening from the left ear and leaving it outside the right ear.

What seems to be the problem then? Some said the budget of it. Others suggest that it’s about spending the savings. Well, money always seems to be the problem even before. Little step on the venture can make distances reach little by little until by the time the finish line is achieved.