Priorities

Now that it's official that the US is in a recession, all the President's men and women are racking their brains to come up with THE economic stimulus package that will return the economy to growth and job creation. Initially, the focus is on rehabilitating the financial and credit markets and sustaining the housing progress. As a US senator puts it, "With rising costs of living, rising unemployment, record foreclosures, and depleted savings, we must do more to help families make ends meet."

Sounds familiar? Of course. Only that right now, the Philippine government's priorities are a bit different. Amid the uncertainties caused by the global financial crisis, the Department of Agriculture (DA) is pushing for technology commercialization to raise farmers' incomes. The DA is focusing on four essentials: market research, research and development, extension, and capital. To carry this out, developing partnerships with other departments, regional and localized centers, and state universities and colleges that have useful technical capabilities will be key.

Though the package that countries are adopting to address the crisis will differ, the question at the end of the day has always been the same: what will be top priority?

Time to make difficult choices...