Should Habagat woes be part of BFAR’s disaster aid?
Though Habagat’s seasonal pattern is predictable, its impact on municipal fishers remains overlooked.
ADVERTISEMENT
Though Habagat’s seasonal pattern is predictable, its impact on municipal fishers remains overlooked.
“This chronic rice crisis is an insult to the Filipino people. As an agricultural nation, it is unacceptable that the basic staple of rice has become a symbol of food insecurity and exploitation."
A farmers organization is concerned about the government’s plan of selling “aging but good rice” in Kadiwa stores starting next month, saying it would not offer long-term solutions to the increasing price of rice and other essentials.
The latest report from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) revealed that Western Visayas is the most affected region with P687.7 million ($12.3M) in agricultural damage, followed by Mimaropa, Cagayan Valley, Ilocos, Calabarzon, and Zamboanga peninsula.
“If Marcos Jr., as the president of the country and a former head of this department, didn’t resolve the agriculture and food crisis, now, he appointed an oligarch."
“Local supply can definitely cover the needed buffer stocking without the need for importation. The National Food Authority should have strong political will to do this."
It has been nearly five months since Marcos Jr. was inaugurated as president but the Department of Health and the Department of Agriculture have yet to have full-time secretaries.
Farmers said Marcos Jr's decision to give priority to debt servicing and infrastructure during this period of worsening food crisis is telling of what’s in store for Filipinos in the next six years.
"DA stands for Department of Agriculture, not Department of Importation. The agency's primary focus should be the strengthening of the domestic agriculture and fisheries sectors."
“We (IPs) protect the ancestral lands against mining and plantation companies because we ourselves are dependent on those lands for food security."
In both dialogues, many questions were left unanswered and many concerns were left hanging. What cannot be ignored, however, is the reality that the farmers' plight is always anchored on one unanswered call: genuine agrarian reform.
"We were hoping that Sec. Piñol would face us and hear out our demands but it turned out that he has snubbed us and disregarded our demands."
“For the longest time, this has been the call of farmers, who have received (little to no support) from previous department administrations.”
“The existence of fake NGOs in the DA’s list, the ineptitude of the DA against rice cartels, Alcala being the lapdog of landlords and agrochemical corporations, and his continuing plunder of agricultural funds have spelled his own demise.” – Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas
“The fact that as early as 2007, the transactions of the bogus NGOs have already started should have been enough reason not to continue with their accreditation. But, the DA did not lift a finger to delist and file criminal cases against the said NGOs. As such, it could be reasonably concluded that the respondents-officials of the DA have conspired and benefited from the scam.”
By RONALYN V. OLEA Bulatlat.com MANILA –When the Philippines lifted quantitative restrictions on agricultural products except rice, the government allocated funds purportedly to help farmers affected by the flooding of imported agricultural products. The...
By RONALYN V. OLEA
“As long as the Aquino government continues with the same policies that have perpetuated the backward, labor-intensive and low-yielding domestic agriculture, rice-self sufficiency will not be realized.” - Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano
“It is the farmers, without any meaningful support from the government, who principally worked for a bountiful harvest. Even the so-called budget for irrigation cannot be claimed as government support because we're the ones paying the exorbitant irrigation fees....
Various controversies plagued the agricultural sector in 2005 and peasants do not see an end in the immediate future. In fact, they are bracing for the worst in 2006. BY AUBREY SC MAKILAN Bulatlat.com Past surveys showed hardship among the poor in 2004 and signs of...
Government employees under the National Federation of Employees’ Associations of the Department of Agriculture joined calls against the privatization policy of the Arroyo administration. It vowed to fight against the rationalization of government agencies and to...
A community of readers and supporters that help us sustain our operations through microdonations for as low as $1.