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LUCENA CITY: Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas witnessed yesterday the
long queue of NFA rice buyers who fell in line as early as 7 a.m.
when the senator visited the public market here.
Accompanied by Quezon Gov. Raffy Nantes and Rep.
Procy Alcala (2nd District, Quezon), Roxas went down to the wet
section of Lucena City Public Market, inspecting meat products and
asking the vendors what the existing prices of their produce such as
longganisa and embutido, although his real concern was the status of
rice prices, taking note of the consistent prices that range from
P31 to P35 per kilo.
Roxas likened the present rice crisis to the
country being in an ‘emergency room,’ needing to be revived, and
fortunately, he said it could be revived.
What needs to be done, the senator stressed, is
to admit there is rice shortage as proven by the two million metric
tons of rice the country will be importing. He also added that the
government must help the farmers to boost rice and palay harvest
“in order for us to attain self-sufficiency in rice production.”
He noted that the farmers of the 37
rice-producing provinces need assistance in terms of supply of
hybrid seeds and fertilizers.
“We must utilize idle lands for rice
production and perhaps in another five years, we can obtain
self-sufficiency in rice supply for the Filipino people,” Roxas
said.
Later, the senator consulted with members of
various sectors in a public forum at the Perez Park where he
interacted with mayors, vice mayors, department heads and NGO members,
to learn first-hand their immediate concerns, mostly in relation
with the rice crisis and issues with other products.
-- Belly M. Otordoz
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