Alcala rice sufficiency goals in 2014 doubted

LUCENA CITY: Local rice farmers and those in Sariaya town are skeptical about the pronouncement of Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala that Quezon and the Philippines will be rice-sufficient by 2014, following claims that Alcala released P3.2-million “pork” in 2008 through Sir Pelagio Alcantara Development (Spade) Foundation Inc. that no cent was received by supposed farmer-beneficiaries.

“How can the President entrust Alcala with huge responsibilities of promoting the welfare of the farmers when he [Alcala] seem to take advantage of marginal farmers like us,” said ‘Rita,’ a farmer from Lucena City.