Will Mayor Rebaldo Start
Public Market Reconstruction Now?
I am happy to greet and wish a Merry Christmas to my readers. May you will always be in peace, happiness and contentment. Happiness is the greatest gift to mankind from God. let us thank Him for that.
RICE MARKET POLICY
The present government policy on rice appears to be an instrument of unfairness. It is leading people to improper nutrition that in the long run, result to poor health of the population.
In the National Census and Statistics records, the annual per capita intake of rice has increased from 105 kilograms five years ago to 119 kilograms at present or an increase of 13.34 percent.
This record is the reverse of what is in Japan, China, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. All those nations are rice eating countries like the Philippines but rice per capita intake have been considerably reduced. Their peoples had changed their eating habits. Today, they are consuming more fruits and vegetables with diminishing quantity of rice. Better still for those peoples have increased too their meat, milk and fish intakes over the years.
However, not in the Philippines for Filipinos had been increasing their rice intakes and reducing fruits, vegetables, meat, milk and eggs.
According to several observers, which views I support, the increasing rice intake and the diminishing fruits, vegetables, meat, milk and eggs is due to the following:
1. Rice, either locally produced or imported, is always available in the markets which price is pegged at P18 to P20 per kilogram; and
2. Since the price of rice is comparatively low compared with other food stuffs, consumers tend to over eat rice.
POOR NUTRITION
While the quantity of food intake maybe enough, the food nutrient present is imbalance. People with this low nutrient diet will be vulnerable to the attack of diseases. They will have stunted growth.
Grains such as rice is rich of carbohydrates and to eat more of this with less vitamins and minerals will enhance obesity. If this trend will continue, Filipinos will be obesed. They will tire easily and become highly susceptible to diseases.
On the part of the producers, the farmers may gradually shift from planting rice to other high value crops. Since market price of palay is pegged at P10 per kilogram notwithstanding the unabated increased cost of production such as land rental and real estate tax, farm inputs and transportation cost, farmers will just stop planting palay and just buy it in the market. They will shift to other high value crops.
At this time, it is cheaper to buy rice in the market than to produce it in the rice paddies. NFA has just announced the bidding for the importation of 500,000 m. t. of rice abroad for delivery early next year.
The rice program of the government does not only need a review. It must be carefully studied, rationalized and revised with the view to promote the rice production and consumption system.
The rice production and marketing program must mutually promote social justice among the producers, traders and consumers. Revise the rice industry system so that the farmers will be justly compensated for their efforts and investment, let the consumers pay justly for the rice they purchase and consume and regulate the margin of profits of rice traders…..
Let the politician deal rice strictly as food and economic commodity rather than an instrument of politics.
PUBLIC MARKET
Kalibo Mayor Raymar A. Rebaldo
has announced the temporary transfer of fish and meat vendors from the Kalibo Wet market to the Bagsakan, Oyo Torong, Kalibo. He announced further that he is asking the vendors to vacate the fish and meat section of the public market because that will be rehabilitated.
Of course who will not like the proposal? The repair is for the best interest of both three which are the vendors, the buyers and the Kalibo local government. The fish and meat vendors accept the idea but request that they be allowed to transfer any place near the public market. They will sure lose both customers and income in Oyo Torong as proven last year.
But, does Mayor Rebaldo has the money now for the market repair? I was told he has yet to borrow from a bank to spend for the repair. Should the fish and meat vendors transfer, will Mayor Rebaldo start the renovation during this christmas season? During the Ati-Atihan season? It is doubtful. He is yet to find the cash for renovation.
After the Ati-Atihan in January 2007, is infrastructure project allowed to start during the election period? The earliest Mayor Rebaldo can get going in the rehabilitation of the Kalibo Public Market is after he has gotten the cash for the project and after the election ban. This is probably in July 2007.
However, it will be happiness if he has the money now regardless of source and start the reconstruction now.
POLITICAL DYNASTY
It is now fixed that the local and national elections will be held on May 14, 2007. This column wishes this new year will bring in new government officials who are honest and trustworthy to manage the affairs of governemnt. /MPmailto:madyaas_pen@yahoo.com
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