BAYBAY CITY, Leyte – “We have to talk about technology, otherwise, we’ll get left behind,” said Department of Energy (DOE) ex-Secretary and former Leyte Governor, Carlos Jericho ‘Icot’ Petilla, during VSU’s 93rd Anniversary Convocation at the VSU gymnatorium, last August 10.
Farmers, he said, must be well-versed with how globalization happens so they’ll be aware of how things work inside and outside of the Philippines. This imbalance, according to Petilla, is a major factor that is hindering farmer’s growth in the country.
"You cannot think locale because someone out there is trying to outsell us," said Petilla.
In his speech as the convocation speaker, the ex-governor emphasized three things: nature, technology, and globalization as matters that should not be tackled separately.
He recalled his travel experience to South Korea, who like the Philippines were faced with an energy crisis, and unravelled that unlike the Philippines who settled into building more power plants to address the issue, South Korea opted instead to reduce energy consumption that would cut environmental damage.
With this, Icot stressed that the balance in technology and nature must be established in the midst of globalization.
Industrial efficiency and competitiveness is necessary to pull the country out of the realms of poverty, the ex-energy secretary explained. Especially with The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) standing before us.
By 2020, taxes will no longer be imposed when importing and exporting within the Southeast Asian borders following an agreement for economic integration in the recent ASEAN Summit. But according to Petilla, this agreement will kill locale agriculture and will ruin occupations for many Filipino farmers as the country will more likely import to tackle the rising food and population disparity.
Petilla ended his speech by expressing his hope in the youths who will be advocates for technological progress balanced with environmental security, through education.
“Education is not just imparting knowledge but also making sure that we are protecting our environment. As we celebrate the 93rd anniversary of this university, I put my hope in all the graduates of this university existing throughout the nation. This hall is honored to have you,” said Petilla.