“Bugas,” non-important commodity
Since the past several weeks, our attention has been glued on the worrisome diminishing rice supply. There was a time when high government officials themselves revealed that the program to import rice primarily intended for the lower middle class of our society was not implemented. It appeared the hitch was the presence of opposing views among decision makers. Our brilliant technocrats could not even agree on the process of importation. As a result affordable rice became scarce.
Here in Cebu, we observed the unfolding of the problem the rest of the country was reeling from. Local grains retailers had great difficulty getting their previous allocation and replenishing their stocks. There was a dearth of rice supply. Consumption did not really increase, storeowners could not just get enough supply. Sale and re-stocking were disproportionate. On the other hand, the government agency tasked with ensuring rice was available could only show fast-depleting stocks in their warehouses. Their administrators were almost clueless when new stocks would arrive. President Rodrigo Duterte did not find it important to address the issue.
The situation in Luzon was not different. In fact, it has reportedly been worse of late. News reported that public markets in Central Luzon were without sufficient stocks of NFA rice. People who were supposed to be the principal consumers of this were forced to buy commercial rice at more expensive prices. This had me asking the same question many citizens raised: “Is the president aware of what is happening?” Duterte’s silence is disconcerting at best. Instead of the president assuring us his government is vigorously finding ways to stabilize rice supply, he engaged Jose Maria Sison in a useless transnational banter.
The highest official of the very government agency concerned with making rice constantly available to us finally spoke when the absence of rice compelled the Zamboanga local government to declare a state of calamity. It was calamitous for Zamboanga’s people to find no rice to buy. In his reaction, the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture said something that I did not want to believe. I really hoped I misheard him, that my hearing is so infirm by advancing age, or that the footage was wrongly edited. The secretary shocked me with his seeming admission that smuggling of rice from neighboring countries helped maintain rice price at levels affordable to Mindanaoans.
The president, amidst the floods of reports on the non-availability of rice, appeared on television, the other day. I was waiting for him to tell the nation what measures his administration were taking to solve the problem. He chose to keep mum, instead venting his ire on the offer of the American government to help our country modernize our army. In a voice raised many decibels higher, he wanted Americans to prove good faith predicated their gesture. His body language and vocal variety said everything I wanted to hear. Our president would rather raise hell against Uncle Sam than look for rice for his people. BUGAS is a non-commodity needing Duterte’s attention.
- Latest
