Breaking Barriers: Building the Future Through Agricultural and Applied Economics

Philippines Agricultural Economics Circle (UP AEC)

With the theme “Breaking Barriers: Building the Future Through Agricultural and Applied Economics,” the University of the Philippines Agricultural Economics Circle (UP AEC) successfully held its event entitled “Agrikonomiya 2019” last September 28. It is a flagship event of the UP AEC which promotes Agricultural and Applied Economics as a field of study to junior and senior high school students and it also encourages the youth to engage in a timely discussion on the agricultural problems in the Philippines.

Sixteen schools from all over NCR and CALABARZON, gathered at the University of the Philippines-Los Baños (UPLB) to participate in Agrikonomiya 2019 which is a one-day event composed of one forum and four different competitions namely the Essay Writing Competition, Extemporaneous Speaking Competition, Photojournalism Competition, and Agricultural Resolutions Pitch Competition. Each contest targeted different skills of the participants as they voiced out their opinions about the agricultural sector of the country through written words, speeches, images, and their policy-making skills.

The forum entitled “Agriculture Amidst Modernization and Industrialization” featured Mr. Herman Z. Ongkiko, President and COO of Orient Integrated Development Consultant, Inc. (OIDCI), as its speaker. He highlighted the challenges to agricultural modernization and emphasized the essential role that the field of Agricultural and Applied Economics plays in overcoming such barriers.

The entire event left an impact on the students as it allowed them to become more aware on the current issues faced by the agricultural sector in the Philippines and it made them think of their possible contributions in solving these problems. With the insightful speech from the speaker, the interactive competitions, and with the objectives being met, it was truly a fun and successful event.