ROXAS TO DA: RELEASE DETAILS ON P1.5B FUNDS FOR RICE SHORTAGE

Senator Mar Roxas is calling on the Department of Agriculture to release the details on the release of an additional P1.5 billion to boost domestic production of rice, and show that this is being put to effective use.

"Hindi na pwedeng itanggi ng ating pamahalaan na may kakulangan tayo ng supply ng bigas. Kitang-kita ito sa pagdagdag nila ng pondo para palakasin ang produksyon. Isang hakbang ang dagdag-pondong ito, at ngayon ay dapat namang siguraduhin na tama ang paggamit ng P1.5 billion na ito," Roxas, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade and Commerce, said.

"Papaano ba gagamitin ang pondong ito? Sinu-sino ang makikinabang dito? Ilang magsasaka ang target? Ano ang papel ng mga LGU dito?" he said, in asking for a breakdown on the DA's spending.

The Liberal Party President said the government must thresh out the details of this planned additional spending so the public could see if the beneficiary-farmers will get the needed assistance and in what form.

"Walang magagawa ang pondong ito upang makatulong sa kalagayan ng ating taumbayan, kung hindi rin ito magagamit sa tamang pamamaraan," Roxas said.

Roxas said an impending crisis would not be stopped if the executive continues trying to make it seem that there is no problem and refuses to "get real," to describe the situation as it is.

"Econ-101 lang iyan. Kung kulang ang supply, tataas ang presyo. Kung inangat ng NFA ang target na ia-angkat na bigas sa 2 milyong tonelada mula 1.2 milyong tonelada, ibig sabihin ay nagkukulang nga ang local supply," he said.

"Kulang nga ang supply sa pandaigdigang pamilihan, at mas mabuti na aminin na ngayon ng gobyerno na may problema tayo sa lokal na supply, at kung ano ang mga hakbang na gagawin para paramihin ito," he added.

Roxas urges the following from the government in light of the rice shortage:

* Release the LGUs' calamity funds to be used for assisting farmers in planting and harvesting rice crops to increase domestic supply;

* Direct LGUs to establish a food security early warning system;

* Reactivate the peace process in conflict areas to ensure unimpeded cultivation, planting, tending and harvesting of crops;

* Create special investigative and prosecutorial teams to go after rice hoarders and those diverting NFA rice for commercial purposes.