Entrepreneurial Farmer

Ambrosio R. Villorente

“Kahit Saan, Kahit Kailan, Maaasahan”?

GSIS or Government Service Insurance System brags of its creed: “Kahit saan, kahit kailan, maaasahan”.
I wished I could believe it, but the GSIS itself has proved, it cannot be relied upon. It is dangerous to believe it.
Have you ever transacted business with the GSIS? Did it remain faithful to its creed: “Kahit saan, kahit kailan, maaasahan”? For government employees and officials, whether you like it or not, you are forced to deal with the GSIS.
On Monday morning, July 9, 2007, the members of the Government Retirees of Libacao (GROL) held a protest rally against the use of e-Card plus in all the transactions with the GSIS including the GSIS pensioners. The protest rally was held in front of the Provincial Capitol, Estancia, Kalibo, Aklan. The GROL demanded four (4) things from the GSIS which are as follows: 1. the payment of monthly pensions to GSIS pensioners be paid by checks sent to their respective addresses by mail; 2. The GSIS pension funds must be deposited in government banks and not in Union Bank which has only one branch in Panay and Guimaras; 3. that Winston Garcia President/CEO of GSIS resigns, and 4. the GSIS field office located in the 3rd floor, Provincial Capitol Building, Kalibo, Aklan be relocated in the ground floor in any suitable building in Kalibo.
During that protest rally, three GSIS officials attended the rally. They were Atty. Jesusa Ruby A. Teruel, Mr. Ronie Abella, and Ms. Moreño. Atty. Teruel is the Branch Manager of GSIS Roxas City while Abella is the Information Officer. Ms. Moreño is the head of the Kalibo GSIS Field office.
In our short dialogue with them, they assured us that as soon as a suitable place is located, GSIS Kalibo will transfer its office in the ground floor of that building. Atty. Teruel assured that “money for office rental is now available.” She also told us the other three demands are subject to higher management approval in Metro Manila.
Until today, 76 days after GSIS gave its assurance of its transfer to ground floor in a suitable building is not complied with. Indeed, GSIS is an office of words. Kahit saan, kahit kailan, maasahan is yet a creed to fulfill.

Eat Less Rice

Ms. Judith Tindog of NFA advocates the less eating of rice to reduce rice shortage. She recommends for the eating of noodles in the morning instead of rice. According to Ms. Tindog, the Vietnamese do not eat rice in the morning, still eat lesser rice at lunch and dinner compared with Filipinos.
Vietnam has surplus rice production because of two reasons. Their per capita rice consumption is lesser than the Filipinos and their production per unit area is higher because of more efficient irrigation system than the Philippines. The Philippines may not need to import rice from abroad if she can harness water in the creeks and rivers for agriculture purpose.
It can also avoid rice importation by consuming less rice. However, the possible food to supplement rice is even more expensive. The artificial cheaper cost of rice is due to government control and rice annual importation. This is why instead of lesser rice intake, rice consumption is increasing yearly.
The suggestion of Mrs. Tindog to reduce rice intake the Vietnam way is noble, but we have to modify our eating habit and work on government policy on rice and the economics of it. /MP