Problem needs solution

Despite the Presidential order given a few weeks ago to DOTC Secretary Leandro Mendoza to find a “win-win” solution, the labor dispute at the Dumaguete City Port has turned for the worse with the PPA first closing the port to everybody “over the safety of life and property … and to put a stop to children and women abuse” on instructions of the Philippine Ports Authority management.  So the decision along the line that they win, we lose was unacceptable; the win-win solution was nowhere yet to be found; therefore, let us all become losers.

The next move was PPA taking back the arrastre operations of the port to re-open it and utilize the workers of Prudential Customs Brokerage Services, Inc., which had won the bid for the port cargo handling operations. The move clearly reveals the differences that have arisen with the PPA and their former workers who belong to the Associated Labor Unions.  This case challenges the parties concerned to find an answer to the demand of labor that the operator of the port arrastre operations absorb all of its 118 members and recognize their union as the collective bargaining agent.

Hopefully, a resolution to the issues is achieved through successful bargaining or negotiation which require being able to give rather than take.  As to which party starts to commit to the position of reasonable bargaining, would be the one who is able to place the general welfare of others above its rights.

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The lines of fellow citizens queuing up to buy NFA rice and their fingers marked with indelible ink to prevent purchasing again reveals the troubled times we are all in. The assurance that we have enough rice to be imported for our needs misses the point that the consideration why the great majority are lining up to buy NFA rice, is its price.  The cost of P18.75 per kilo versus P30.00 and above is an indicator of how price sensitive is the great majority of our population. However, we are, indeed, preparing for the continuous increase in prices of commodities as the world’s current demand for grains is greater than supply.

Some data reported by the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics can help us get a situationer as follows: “As of March 31, BAS data on rice inventory in Central Visayas, which has a population of 6.7 million, showed that the supply of 1.27 million MT would last for 51 days. Bohol's supply of 448,186 MT was expected to last for 73 days; Cebu's 596,186 MT for 41 days; Negros Oriental's 190,085 MT for 48 days; and Siquijor's 36,186 MT for 159 days. The levels of rice sufficiency varied among provinces in the region, the BAS said. Bohol had the highest sufficiency at 83 percent, followed by Negros Oriental (55 percent) and Siquijor (31 percent). Cebu had the lowest at 3 percent.”

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Here is one anecdote to help give us smile as we eat rice. A friend of mine whose mother had recently passed away was seen eating red glutinous rice on one rare occasion. A scholar who came to hear of this expressed his disapproval by saying that it was highly improper for one in mourning to eat red rice. Asked why, he explained that red signified happiness.  Said my friend: "Does it mean that those who eat white rice are all in mourning?"*