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HONG
KONG (via PLDT)—President Arroyo said on Monday the
government expects rice production to increase by 7
percent this year due to “unprecedented” spending on the
agricultural sector.
The
President made the statement in an open forum after
addressing the 11th Asian Investment Conference (AIC) at
the Conrad International Hotel, where she reiterated
that the government has been proactive in addressing the
problem of high rice prices in the Philippines.
Asked
what her administration has been doing to address high
rice prices, Mrs. Arroyo said, “We’ve been spending
unprecedented amounts of money in our agricultural
sector, irrigation, farm-to-market roads, seed support,
research and development, and that’s why we’re expecting
this year a 7-percent increase in rice production.”
She said
the government has been “religiously implementing” the
Agricultural and Fisheries Modernization Act, and has
set aside funds to provide “targeted relief” for the
poorest Filipino families who are most vulnerable to
price increases.
“What is
important is we make sure that the poorest of the poor
will get relief from the hardships not only brought
about by declined world production, but the other
vagaries that have come up like high price of oil and
credit brunch in big economies in the US,” she said.
Eastern
Samar Gov. Benjamin Evardone said in an interview with
reporters at the lobby of the Grand Hyatt Hotel here
that the President has approved in principle the
proposal of local government officials to allow local
government units (LGUs) to act as retailers of NFA rice,
so that their areas would be assured of affordable rice
supply.
Evardone
said LGUs would undertake the venture, which they will
thresh out with Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, in
tandem with nongovernment organizations to ensure
transparency.
On
possible concerns that local officials may use the
scheme to boost their chances in the 2010 elections, he
said, “Let’s not impute any political motives into this.
This is meant to give the people access to affordable
rice. And we can be held accountable as government
officials.”
In
Manila, the national government is preparing to release
new directives that will help the country cope with
soaring rice prices, according to the National Economic
and Development Authority (Neda).
Neda
acting director general Augusto Santos told reporters
these new measures also hope to ease the flow of
commodities, such as rice, in and out of Metro Manila.
Santos
said these measures include the removal of the truck ban
in the streets of Metro Manila, the strict enforcement
of laws against the conversion of agricultural land into
residential land, and the removal of LGU charges on
trucks that pass their areas.
The Neda
chief said the removal of the truck ban, which still has
to be approved by the Metropolitan Manila Development
Authority, will help ease pressure on rice supply and
price.
Santos
said that as for the laws on the conversion of
agricultural land into residential land, which is
covered by several Republic Acts such as Section 65 of
RA 6657, or the provision on the Conversion of Lands,
must be strictly enforced.
He also
said the government is willing to take the risk of
causing a slowdown in the real-estate industry. “It’s a
tradeoff that the government is willing to take. What
would you rather have, food or houses?”
Santos
also said the government wants to strictly impose laws
protecting trucking companies from paying LGUs separate
fees.
He said
that while laws and regulations have been made, LGUs are
not enforcing it. Santos said that if these charges
continue, rice prices may be affected, especially at
this time when rice prices in the world market are high.
(With C. Ordinario) |
