For our country to finally attain rice sufficiency, if not restore our previous title as one of the top rice-growing economies in the Far East, our government should not only undertake palliative measures. It should also uproot the very causes of the problem. It should consistently monitor market activities and put behind bars rice smugglers, hoarders, price manipulators, and involved corrupt individuals.
Our government should put an end to the systematic conversion of agricultural lands into posh subdivisions. It should strictly regulate, if not stop, the importation of rice and other farm products. All-out support has to be given our farmers in the form of seeds and fertilizer subsidies, more irrigation facilities, modern farm equipment, farm-to-market roads — and fair price of palay. Sufficient budget has to be allocated to the agricultural sector if only to help alleviate the plight of our poor farmers.
But, extreme accountability safeguards should also be put in place to ensure that big chunks of these funds don’t end up getting into the hands of crooks. Furthermore, bloated intelligence funds and the billions of pork barrel being inserted in our national budget and which otherwise become a source of graft or kickbacks can be tapped to augment government efforts toward more rice production and sustainable cereal supply.
We only need to work real hard — and honestly, and rid ourselves of unbridled greed and disturbing apathy.
MANUEL A. COLLAO
manuelc223@yahoo.com