ISABELA POSTS 283% RICE SUFFICIENCY
ILAGAN, ISABELA, APRIL 15, 2008 (STAR) By Charlie Lagasca – Amid reports of a grim scenario of rice shortage predicted to last until 2010, the production of the country’s staple crop here is more than adequate to supply its domestic requirements as well as even support most of its yield to other regions needing rice supply, the agriculture office here said Sunday.
Danilo Tumamao, provincial agriculturist, said that the province, which has the highest rice yield per hectare among rice-producing provinces in the country, has achieved 283 percent self-sufficiency in rice, meaning that it produces 183 percent more than it consumes.
As a result, he said, a higher percentage of the rice production here is sent out of the province to support the growing consumption needs of other provinces of the country, including the metropolis.
“Actually, 70 percent of provincial rice production goes out of the province,” Tumamao said, but despite this, the province still receives a buffer allocation from the National Food Authority.
According to recent reports from the Department of Agriculture, the province produced at least 1.03 million metric tons, second only to Nueva Ecija’s production of around 1.8 million metric tons.
Cebu Archdiocese may not join distribution of NFA rice Tuesday, April 15, 2008
While the Archdiocese of Manila has already started helping the National Food Authority in the distribution of NFA rice to consumers, the Archdiocese of Cebu is somewhat hesitant to do the same.
In an interview, Msgr. Achilles Dakay, media liaison of the Cebu Archdiocese, said that so far NFA has not invited them to distribute rice at the parishes.
Dakay said he is not aware of any invitation or tasking made by the NFA to them. But even if NFA will request them, the Archdiocese of Cebu may not want to meddle with the rice controversy.
According to him, Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal does not want to be blamed should there be any problems in terms of sufficiency and distribution.
The Archdiocese of Manila, under Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales, opened 80 “Bigasan sa Parokya” last Saturday in seven parishes.
The distribution was carried under Caritas, the social arm of the Roman Catholic Church, despite hesitations of some priests and bishops.
Rosales told them to “push through with the distribution as it is in line with the thrusts of the Church to help in attaining the common good of the people.”
Initially, the distribution will start with the NFA rice and soon the outlet will sell soy sauce, noodles, eggs and other canned goods.
Lingayen, Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz and Laoag, Ilocos Norte Bishop Sergio Utleg earlier expressed objections to the use of churches in the distribution of rice.
Cruz warned of possible “hanky-panky” in the new system since government agencies are involved.
Utleg, on the other hand, said government should focus on transparency and improving agricultural programs instead of utilizing the church. — Anthony S. Teo with Ferliza C. Contratista/MEEV
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
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