According to the UN's 2020 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World Report,

59 million Filipinos experience moderately or severe shortage of consistent access to

food, making the country the most food insecure nation in Southeast Asia from 2017
to 2019. No wonder that the Philippines has a number of laws concerning food
security in an effort to better the nation's circumstances and ensure that its citizens
have access to a fundamental human need.

To illustrate, the Food Safety Act (FSA) of 2013 (Republic Act No. 10611) is just one
of the many existing laws in the Philippines that deals with food security. According
to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2013), the said Act is
intended to improve the nation's food safety regulatory framework in order to
safeguard consumer health and make it easier for local foods and food products to
reach the market. In addition to gaining consumer trust in the food regulatory system,
the FSA aims to protect the public from illnesses spread by food and water,
mislabeled or contaminated food, and achieve economic growth and development by
supporting fair trade practices and a solid regulatory base for both domestic and
international trade. The Act seeks to accomplish these objectives by clearly defining
and connecting the roles and mandates of the relevant government agencies;
providing a framework for accountability and coordination in the execution of
regulatory functions; establishing policies and programs for addressing hazards to
food safety and creating suitable standards and control measures; fortifying the
scientific foundation of the regulatory framework; and enhancing the capacity of
farmers, fishermen, businesses, consumers, and government employees to ensure food
safety.

Despite the law's ideal intentions, there are still some disadvantages, the majority of
which are felt by small businesses. In particular, small businesses may find it difficult
to comply with the regulations under this act. Due to their possible lack of funding
and technical knowledge, the standards and requirements for food safety, which
include sanitation, labeling, traceability, and hygiene, may be difficult to meet for
these small-scale businesses. Speaking of technical proficiency, one must possess
sufficient technical knowledge in fields such as quality control, hazard analysis, and
sanitation procedures in order to abide by the Food Safety Act. Clearly, new
businesses are far more likely to struggle to successfully adopt and maintain these
practices. Furthermore, small-scale producers may find it difficult to cover the costs
of implementing safety measures, performing tests, and maintaining accurate
documentation in accordance with the food safety regulations without financial
assistance from the government or other institutions.

In addition to the Food Safety Act, the National Food Authority Act (Republic Act
No. 7607) is another act that seeks to improve and lessen Philippines' food
insecurity.The fair distribution of small farmers' possibilities and advantages is the
primary objective of this Republic Act. By assisting small farmers in achieving their
socioeconomic objectives, it acknowledges the nation's duty for their welfare and
growth. The Act grants farmers the ability to organize as a group and have
representation on the boards of government agencies, which is one of its many
advantages. This allows farmers to get fair prices for their products, buy inputs at a
significantly lower cost, and qualify for government subsidies and farm inputs. In
addition, the law requires that small farmers have access to farm equipment and
machinery. It states that the government must give farmers' organizations machinery
and equipment in order to increase their productivity and reduce the expenses that the
country's small farmers bear.

Even though the law's goal is to protect the interests of producers and consumers
equally, there are still certain risks and drawbacks to its purpose.To help the farmers,
the NFA regularly participates in price stabilization programs. Because of this, there
are instances in which the government must purchase grains at prices above market in
order to comply with the law. This can financially strain the government and result in
budgetary difficulties as well as the possible misapplication of funds that could be
used for other national initiatives. Furthermore, because the National Food Authority
(NFA), which was founded by the Act, has the means to acquire a specific raw
material, it has the authority to regulate the market. Reduced competition and a lack
of supplier diversity could result from the NFA taking a leading position in these
markets, which could open the door for monopoly. Similarly, this puts the nation at
risk of potential corruption. Corruption is made possible by the NFA's centralized
control over the distribution of staple crops. The efficacy of price support programs
may be compromised by irregularities involving the NFA.

In addition, the Philippines' Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act (AFMA) of

1997 (Republic Act No. 8435) was created to promote the modernization and growth
of the agricultural and fishing sectors here in the Philippines. According to the
Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines, this Act prescribes crucial
corresponding measures to modernize the country's agriculture and fisheries sectors in
order to increase their economic sustainability and prepare them for the difficulties
posed by globalization through the suitable, centered, and logical provision of the
necessary assistance services, allocating funds accordingly and for other purposes.The
Agro-Industry Modernization Credit and Financing Program (AMCFP) is an excellent
advantage of AFMA. The delivery of various forms of credit assistance will be part
of this program. As an illustration, AMCFP provides credit assistance for the purchase
of work animals, farm and fishing machinery, seeds, fertilizer, poultry, livestock, and
feeds, among other necessities in the fields of agriculture and fisheries. Additionally,
this credit assistance also covers the installation of irrigation tube wells and the
purchase of water pumps. Moreover, AFMA aims to increase the quantity, quality,
and value of agricultural and fisheries products produced for both domestic and export
markets; expand the number of trading partners worldwide for these products; and
decrease the use of agrochemicals that are bad for the environment and human health.

Just like Newton's third law states "every action has an equal and opposite reaction.",
dejectedly, this does not exempt the AFMA. Although its mere existence is to
modernize the country's agriculture and fisheries, it still poses disadvantages that
needs to be assessed by the authorities. For example, the very objective of
modernization may have detrimental effects on small-scale farmers and fishermen.
The focus on modernization may cause the agriculture and fishing industries to
become more integrated into international markets. Although this may open up doors
for exports, it may also expose regional producers to changes in the global market and
competition, which could have a detrimental effect on the livelihood of small farmers
and fishermen.Furthermore, some modernization initiatives might encourage the use
of outside resources like chemical pesticides and fertilizers. A excessive reliance on
these materials could be dangerous to human health, the environment, and
agriculture's long-term viability.Likewise, encouraging high-input, intensive farming
methods may have detrimental effects on the environment, including degrading soil,
contaminating water supplies, and reducing biodiversity.

REFERENCES

United Nations. (n.d.-a). The FAO Legislative Advisory Group-Philippines (FLAG-

ph) initiative | Department of Economic and Social Affairs. United Nations.
https://sdgs.un.org/partnerships/fao-legislative-advisory-group-philippines-flag-
ph-initiative?
fbclid=IwAR3zmR3LQvUwuR_wBkrjDbo25PQ39rU3_811EtYDYd6RoonWR
etCXaXRXCg#:~:text=In%20the%202020%20State%20of,of%20consistent
%20access%20to%20food

Fao.org. (n.d.). https://www.fao.org/faolex/results/details/en/c/LEX-FAOC128390/?

fbclid=IwAR3Uhyn_EL5j-jTPOOWejSKmAbN6kqlYUIv_FJc-
bW43KuoKZC76hxVbxyQ#:~:text=Philippines-,Food%20Safety%20Act
%202013%20

Implementing rules and regulations of republic act no. 10611. (n.d.).

https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2015/02/20/implementing-rules-and-
regulations-of-republic-act-no-10611/

Republic act 7607: Empowering small hold farmers in their economic endeavors.
FFTC Agricultural Policy Platform (FFTC-AP). (2020, July 16).
https://ap.fftc.org.tw/article/600?fbclid=IwAR1VIeYtTsvQlobh-
niPH8eXGrd_7v2PmQ15p8r4dpziqNDaQRXzQQ3_WEI

Republic act no. 8435 - official gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. (n.d.-b).
https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1997/12/22/republic-act-no-8435-s-1997/