The Manila Times’ Lifestyle Editor Tessa Mauricio-Arriola interviews Ang Probinsyano party-list first nominee Alfred ‘Apid’ delos Santos.
ANG Probinsyano party-list first nominee Alfred “Apid” delos Santos vowed to encourage the youth to go back to agriculture and fisheries by incorporating modern technologies into these sectors.
Delos Santos said there was a lot of concern about the low interest in agriculture among the youth as many did not see themselves engaging in agribusiness.
“The problem now is that our farmers and fisherfolk are all elderly. Their children want to be in Metro Manila, and they want different jobs because we have an inclination that when you are a farmer or if you are a fisherman, you are poor. I want to change that,” he said during The Manila Times’ “Lights, Camera, Boto!” The Chat Show Edition interview on Sunday.
Delos Santos said the best way to reignite the love for farming was to inject technology into these sectors. This could help provide a new opportunity for making farming and fishing more interesting for young people.
“Innovation will help make agriculture more attractive to young people,” delos Santos added.
The increased use of mobile phones in farming could also help veer away young people from stereotypes of traditional farming and help change their perceptions of agriculture, helping them to view it as an exciting and innovative industry.
“There are new ways to make farming and fishing, and I aim to illustrate this by helping develop and promote an app that the youth can use,” delos Santos continued.
As an example, he cited the popularity of plantitos and plantitas (plant-enthused uncles and aunts) during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, denoting that people still enjoyed taking care of plants.
“Why not use this as a model in business and agriculture?” delos Santos questioned.
Media workers protection
Delos Santos said he would also push for the protection and promotion of the welfare of media workers once the Ang Probinsyano party-list was reelected in Congress.
He said during the party-list’s first year in Congress, it was able to create the Eddie Garcia law. The bill covered “all workers or independent contractors in the film, television and radio entertainment industry,” and Section 5 of the bill stated that “the worker or independent contractor and the employer or principal shall execute an agreement or employment contract in a language or dialect understood by both parties before the commencement of service.”
“We protected people in show business [in order] that they may be provided hazard pay and occupational rights. I plan to craft a law that addresses these concerns in the media because we know that besides the firefighters and the police, one of the first to respond when something happens is members of the media,” he said.
He added that it was very important that members of the press had “occupational safety, health and emergency response programs.”
“They will have a sense of security and safety if not for themselves at least for their families and loved ones. They can get something if they are hurt in their work because we know that reporters, cameramen and drivers risk their lives just to cover the news. So, they deserve this,” he continued.
Delos Santos expressed hope that the 19th Congress would be able to pass the bill once it was filed.
“It’s one of the top 100 bills that I will pass in Congress,” he promised.
