The NFA “hemorrhage”

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor GUILLERMO TEJIDA III Desk Editor NANETTE L. GUADALQUIVER Busines Editor NIDA A. BUENAFE Sports Editor (On Leave) RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

The apprehensions expressed by Senator Edgardo Angara over the excessive powers of the National Food Authority seem to have very solid basis. Angara, a seasoned leader, not only in the political arena, having been a senator for several years now, and even president of the Senate, but also an acknowledged one in the academe, in legal practice, and also in Agriculture, should know whereof he speaks. And it is wisdom and experience like his that we so badly need in these days which seem to be plagued by crisis after crisis.

In a privilege speech and as reported in one of the national dailies yesterday, Angara batted for a reduction of the vast powers of the NFA, and warned that, unless this is done, the government will incur losses of some P111 BILLION in the next two years.

What Angara is proposing is for the trading operations of the NFA to be transferred to the private sector in order to stop what he described as its “financial hemorrhaging”. He pointed out that giving the private sector such trade functions by allowing it to import and sell rice without restrictions, will stabilize both the supply and price of rice, as well as eliminate smuggling, corruption and hoarding.

He also underscored the fact that if prices continue to rise and are not controlled immediately, the possibility of social unrest heightening in the country would increase.

The senator also scored what he called the “weak agriculture sector” of the country which he blamed on the underinvestment in it by the government, which he also said has given more attention to urban consumers, and has not given appropriate investments and policy support to it.

Angara did not only point out the failures that have led to the present crisis, he also offered suggestions such as government support for fertilizer, subsidy, high yield seeds and post-harvest facilities.

These may appear as hindsight in view of the present situation where the government, already considered the biggest importer of rice in the region, is still adopting stop-gap solutions in an attempt to allay fears of a shortage of the staple food of the country. But if it shows that adequate and credible steps are being taken to forestall this, it could tamp down such apprehensions, even with just the thought that a real solution is on the way.*