On 19 June 2024, at 6:00 p.m., the Chinese Filipino Business Club, Inc. (CFBCI) led by President Samuel Lee Uy held its fifth monthly plenary meeting at the CFBCI 8th Floor Auditorium in Binondo, Manila. To offer valuable information and insights to the participating officers, members, and other individuals, Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) President and CFBCI Vice Chairman Rosendo So was invited as keynote speaker.

Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) is a civil society group that aims to protect the interests of the agricultural sector by promoting transparency, lobbying legislative actions for the development of the sector, and urging government agencies and officials to execute positive solutions to prominent issues. SINAG is currently led by Chairman Rosendo So who is also a Vice Chairman in the External Affairs Committee of CFBCI and the Founding Chairman of ABONO Partylist.

During the meeting which was graced with the attendance and active participation of fifty (50) individuals, Mr. Rosendo So gave an informative and enlightening presentation with the title “Why Philippines Cannot Reach Food Sovereignty and Need to Import For Our Food Security.” Rice prices in other countries are reported to continue to rise which eventually affect local rice prices in the Philippines. Since the world market price of rice is skyrocketing, its landed cost also increases leading to much more expensive imported rice.

All attendees listened carefully to Mr. Rosendo So’s talk backed with legitimate data and compelling insights. Everyone agreed with Mr. Rosendo So in his stance that the national agricultural sector needs great attention now more than ever. As the price of rice continues to increase, more and more Filipinos, especially the urban poor, can no longer afford this staple and eventually suffer from worse hunger.

After the meeting, a plaque of appreciation was awarded to the speaker by CFBCI officers. Since March 2024, CFBCI has begun a tradition of inviting excellent speakers from various backgrounds to attend its monthly plenary meeting and lead empowering conversations with CFBCI members. As an organization, CFBCI strongly advocates for the enhancement of knowledge and skills of its members, particularly on areas related to trade and business, hence the continuation of this tradition.

菲華工商總會訊：本會第十四屆第五次理事會議，於六月十九日（星期三）下午假本會七樓會議室召開，由本會理事長黃書瑋親自主持，通過多項重要議題。理事會議結束後，邀請農業發展協會（Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura簡稱SINAG）主席、ABONO政黨創黨主席、亦為本會外交委員會副主任蘇文琳(Mr. Rosendo So)擔任主講人，當天共有五十多位同仁出席聆聽。
農業發展協會是一個民間團體，旨在透過立法途徑促進農業發展及保護該產業之利益，並且督促政府有關部門解決農產業所面臨的各項問題。

主席蘇文琳以「為什麼菲律濱無法達到糧食自給，需要進口以確保糧食安全」為專題演講。他表示石油及肥料的價錢都是米價上漲的主要關鍵，因為種植稻米都需要使用肥料，且所用的設備、運送工具都會用到石油，所以每當石油跟肥料的價錢上漲，米價也會跟著上漲。他接著分享了一系列數據報導，國際稻米市場價錢的飆漲，將會嚴重影響進口大米的到岸價格，並舉例大米生產國如泰國及越南，米價從原本的每公噸三百四十美元飆漲至每公噸六百美元。他同時指出，以往政府的方針是進口大米，而馬科斯總統則希望本地生產。「因此，許多菲律濱農民被鼓勵重返農業；但國家糧食署的政策似乎與此背道而馳」。

他說菲律濱目前有百分之卅的大米是靠進口，但是進口大米不是解決問題的根源，所以他非常贊同馬科斯總統的政策，呼籲政府要鼓勵農民種植稻米，以達到百分之九十二至九十五的糧食自給率及確保國家食糧安全。最後結尾，他語重心長地提到目前大米價格持續上漲，越來越多的菲律濱人，尤其是城市貧民，已經買不起這種主食，將遭受更嚴重的飢餓。國家農產業現在急需高度關注這個議題。

隨後，由本會領導人頒贈感謝狀予主講人蘇文琳主席，並全體合影留念。當日還同時頒發感謝盾予依沙迷拉地區常務理事許家璧，嘉勉他在當地捐贈二十一台全新四十五英寸智能型電視機，為依沙迷拉省教師提供新的教學管道，豐富學生的學習資源，推動菲律濱的教育升級。並為五月份壽星董事鄭奕偉慶生。

圖片說明：
上圖：頒發感謝狀予主講人（左起）榮譽理事長黃拔來，執行副理事長曾國強，理事長黃書瑋，主席蘇文琳，名譽理事長謝國萬，副理事楊良田，副理事長陳華民。
中圖一：頒發感謝盾予許家璧（左起）黃拔來，陳華民，曾國強，許家璧，黃書瑋，謝國萬，楊良田，依沙迷拉地區常務理事洪振山，依沙迷拉同仁黃培堂。
中圖二：為五月壽星慶生（左起）董事黃志安，黃拔來，陳華民，楊良田，曾國強，鄭奕偉，黃書瑋，謝國萬，董事柯仁義。
下圖：講座會現場。