RICE CRISIS: HOUSE, SENATE DIVIDED ON EMERGENCY POWERS FOR GMA
MANILA, APRIL 16, 2008 (STAR) By Aurea Calica And Christina Mendez - While members of the House of Representatives are open to the proposal to grant President Arroyo emergency powers to immediately and effectively address the rice crisis, senators slammed the idea and instead urged the government to come up with short- and long-term solutions to the impending food crisis.Sen. Manuel Roxas II said at this point, proposals for emergency powers for the President to address the rice and other food problems are premature and counter-productive and would lead to more confusion and panic.
Senate President Manuel Villar Jr. proposed a multi-year budget approach for agriculture projects, particularly those directly affecting food security.
Sen. Loren Legarda, for her part, called for a full-fledged national food production campaign with the help of local government units in the face of the global food shortage.
Roxas, chairman of the Senate trade and commerce committee, said what’s needed is “a clear plan guided by cold facts and clear criteria.
“What we need now is for the government to tell the people the real score, and walk them through a credible plan to deal with an escalating crisis, stage by stage. Transparency, political will and a good plan will carry the day,” he said.
“There is no immediate relief. We cannot perform magic to solve the problem. The previous solution that we have, which is to import rice, is no longer effective and applicable because the price of rice in the world market now reaches $900 per metric ton, when it used to be $350 per metric ton,” he said.
He said importation as a short-term solution must be substituted by a better plan to address the needs of the people.
Roxas has filed Senate Bill 2161 to help institute good governance in all government actions and transactions related to food and basic commodities.
He also filed Resolution No. 345 urging the Philippine government to take the lead in calling for a special leaders’ summit among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as well China, Japan and Korea to come up with an international action on the rice and food problems.
SB 2161 or the proposed “Affordable Food Transparency Act” mandates the publication by the Department of Agriculture (DA) of all rice, corn and sugar import permits, including names and addresses of importers and suppliers; countries of origin; dates of contract and arrival of imports and other specifications; contract price and modes of purchase, among others.
It also requires the dissemination of any and all significant information that affect food supply and prices, through print and electronic publication; the disclosure of any information about the existence of a factor or risk to food security; pertinent government agencies, particularly the DA and Department of Trade and Industry and their sub-units, to comply with written requests for any information, records or documents within two working days, under pain of penalty. – With Delon Porcalla, Jose Rodel Clapano, Rhodina Villanueva
Reported by: Sol Jose Vanzi
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