MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS PART 2

Former Agriculture Secretary now Bohol Rep. Arthur Yap has clarified the supposedly anomalous rice importations during the previous administration.

So allow me to shift to the much more important flipside of rice importation which also has A LOT of TIMELY and UNANSWERED questions – SELF-SUFFICIENCY.

First, WHAT EXACTLY has been done, or is being done, in the seven months of the Aquino Administration to increase rice production?

Since I asked in an earlier blog some two weeks ago if hunger is being really fought, I still have not heard, read or come across any ON-GOING and WIDE-RANGING program to raise the volume of rice harvests.

Correct me if I’m wrong. With CONCRETE DETAILS, please.

I haven’t heard or read of any DECENT financial assistance to farmers to enable them to buy modern and effective farming equipment and implements like fertilizers and pesticides.

I haven’t heard or read of any MASSIVE IRRIGATION projects for rice-producing provinces, considering that summer is fast approaching.

There is no CONSISTENT and REASONABLE EFFORT to find or provide new agricultural lands to farmers on where they can plant rice, as well as other crops.

Golf courses and industrial or residential estates continue to sprout everywhere like mushrooms.

May agrarian reform program, tama. Pero sa HABA at DAMI ng proseso at batas na dapat sundin, karaniwan nang ilang buwan o TAON inaabot bago mapunta sa mga magsasaka ang lupa para makapagtanim sila.

I’m not a farmer so I can’t exhaust all the factors much as I want to. But take note of this, ladies and gentlemen:

National Food Authority (NFA) boss Lito Banayo has declared that the Philippines will have to import rice again because farmers could not meet local consumption.

Pero WALANG DETALYADONG PALIWANAG si Banayo kung ano ang nagiging problema. WALA siyang masabi kung anong solusyon ang ginagawa ng NFA, KUNG MERON NGA.

I also don’t know of or recall banayo having presented EVEN A SINGLE, new  plan or program for the country’s rice self-sufficiency since he took over as NFA boss.

If anybody knows anything, please tell me.

Basta para kay Banayo, mag-import na lang tayo, tapos. Iyon nga lang,TAYONG SAMBAYANAN na naman ang MAGBABAYAD sa pamamagitan ng ating buwis.

As I’ve said, I will gladly welcome any reply from the NFA.  

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Twoi of our blogmates commented on our blog” Good AFP move on Garcia ‘miracle.’

ROMY SOLINA of Makati:

Naaalala ko (pa) nung sang Senate hearing, na-challenge si Angelo Reyes ni Panfilo Lacson ng "all right" (sa mga PMAers, (ang ibig sabihin nito) dapat sumagot ng totoo). Ang sabi niya (Reyes) ay nag-swear na siya ng "to tell the truth, etc." To us, palusot ang ganung sagot.

NENITA SALAO of Paranaque:

"Mr.  Angelo Reyes denied his knowledge of Mr. Garcia’s  malversation of AFP funds (tell that to the marines.. and you'll get shot!). Reyes says he is willing to attend a Senate hearing if he is called upon to explain. I wonder if he will, when he could not even give a straight answer when interviewed by Ms. Korina (Sanchez of ABS-CBN).  

Stay safe and God Bless, everybody. 30