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NUMEROUS economic threats exist over which the Philippine government
has no control. Begin with the rising costs of gas, rice and many
foodstuffs in the world market. Add the decline of the American
economy and global warming and their consequences for the world
economy.
Filipino car owners, professional drivers,
commuters, businessmen and public-transport owners have learned to
live with soaring gas prices. Car owners and commuters have had to
make adjustments, modifying their lifestyles and changing their
travel habits.
We have also learned to live with chronic water
and power shortages. Both were difficult to deal with, but we
survived with behavior and lifestyle modifications. Between the two,
many Filipinos said, water lack was more difficult. It’s easier to
light the candle than find water to flush the toilet.
But how will the public cope when the price of
rice gets prohibitive or, worse, if supply runs out? The Department
of Agriculture and the National Food Authority (NFA), which imports
rice, have assured us that rice is plentiful, at least for the
buffer months. What is undeniable is that rice has become more
expensive.
We know more or less the “causes,” but what
are the “solutions?” Last week, Secretary of Agriculture Arthur
Yap said he was going to request fast-food outlets to ask diners if
they could have a half-cup, not a cup, of rice with their
“value” meals. Yesterday, the NFA said Filipinos should eat more
brown rice (unpolished whole rice grain called “pinawa” in
Tagalog) for its nutritional value and to cut down on importation.
The adjective for these approaches is “band
aid,” considering the seriousness of the rice picture. How
serious? Our banner story yesterday suggested that the spiraling
rice cost could trigger social unrest and worsen political
instability. We are sure the Agriculture secretary and his
specialists have pondered the problem and are
formulating long-term and short-term responses. He has not
articulated his ideas.
Sen. Loren Legarda has suggested that the
government make extensive use of the Agriculture and Fisheries
Modernization Program fund (which has an annual budget of P17
billion) and the Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund to
help rice farmers achieve greater productivity.
The money, she said, could be used to buy
quality seeds, improve irrigation, build post-harvest facilities,
construct water-impounding structures, reduce losses and wastes and
introduce drought-mitigating measures.
The immediate release of local government
calamity funds could help farmers buy seeds, fertilizers and
pesticides to help ensure plentiful harvests, Sen. Mar Roxas said.
He suggested that local governments establish a food early-warning
system to ensure targeted distribution of rice. The government
should also investigate and prosecute profiteers, rice cartels and
NFA insiders who have diverted rice from public storehouses to
private outlets. Any other ideas?
The Great Filipino Dream is having a roof over
one’s head and the guarantee that one could have three meals a
day. Rice, the national food, is the centerpiece at the Pinoy
kitchen and the dining table. When its price jumps beyond the
average man’s means, society is in trouble. When it disappears in
public markets, there could be riots and stampedes. The anger
will overwhelm the noise of the opposition public marches and the
parish-church prayer-rallies.
We are certain the presidential palace, the
agriculture department, the NFA and all concerned are doing
everything to make sure that this dark scenario does not happen and
that affordable rice—if not inexpensive oil or power—will be a
steadying presence in the marketplace.
Think long term
The times call for creative and useful ideas.
The half-cup rice at fastfood outlets should
inspire suggestions like foregoing the ubiquitous fried-rice cum
everything at breakfast.
Brown rice, it turns out, is more expensive than
regular rice at retail outlets. Why not diversify our diet by
substituting nutritious noodles for rice, which is an old reliable
in Japan, China and other Asian countries?
Think long term. Looking ahead, Senator Roxas
urged Malacanang to speed up peace talks with the MILF and the NPA
to allow the unimpeded cultivation, planting and harvesting of crops
in conflict areas.
We need a rational land-use policy. Too much
farmland has been converted to industrial, commercial, leisure and
residential use. Prohibiting unwarranted conversion could be
complemented by making real estate developers shoulder the cost of
transfer and other improvements.
Spend massively on irrigation and introduce the
latest rice-growing technology to our farmers.
Let us revisit the success of the Marcos-era
rice programs and replant them on the policy landscape.
Short-term, immediate responses will help bring
temporary relief. Policymakers and decision makers must plot the
roadmap to a future when we can grow rice for our needs, produce
enough for export, and make agriculture, marine, livestock and dairy
products steadily available at affordable prices.
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