SEVERAL economic experts are stressing the importance of improving the agricultural and fisheries sector to ensure Philippine post-pandemic recovery, noting that 25 years after the passage of the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act (AFMA), the sector has progressed but has not been 'modernized.'

Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) senior research fellow Roehlano Briones said AFMA (Republic Act 8435) was considered a landmark law when it was enacted in 1997. However, Briones pointed out that based on the AFMA's objectives, the country still has not attained agricultural modernization as envisioned by this law.