Zubiri proposes creation of rice producing zones to PBBM
Published Aug 4, 2023 10:49 am
As the country faces a possible rice crisis, Senate President Juan Miguel F. Zubiri said he has proposed the creation of Rice Producing Zones (RPZs) in various regions of the country to the President.
                                                                (MB File Photo)
According to Zubiri, he raised this proposal to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. during the senators recent "very cordial" dinner meeting at "Bahay Pangulo." Zubiri said the President finds his proposal "interesting" and a "good idea."      The possible rice crisis is caused by the recent flooding of rice producing provinces and the on-coming El Niño phenomenon. Zubiri explained to the President that these zones should be supervised by assistant secretaries or undersecretaries of the Department of Agriculture (DA). These DA officials, according to Zubiri, should give certified seeds, given modernized equipment, fertilizer, pest controls. They would also be assigned to oversee the harvests in order to create buffer stocks in these regions The Chief Executive, himself also said, that there are problems after the DA functions were devolved to local government units (LGUs), Zubiri disclosed. As an agriculturist, Zubiri pointed out that there are mayors who are not into agriculture and who make the Municipal Agriculture Officers (MAOs) into glorified landscapers who make plazas presentable. "Nawalan na po ng technician yun dahil nga nag-devolve na sa mga provincial, municipal and city offices ang trabaho ng DA (Because of devolution, there are no more technicians in the provincial, municipal and city offices)," he pointed out. Zubiri said he explained to the President that the DA has thousands of employees in the regional level waiting to be tapped to monitor the rice production program. He revealed that the Philippines, through the International Rice Research Institute based in Los Banos, Laguna, has many varieties that can survive floodwaters for as long as three weeks. "So may mga alternatives tayo (We have alternatives). So that was basically what we were discussing with the President," he said.
                                                                (MB File Photo)
According to Zubiri, he raised this proposal to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. during the senators recent "very cordial" dinner meeting at "Bahay Pangulo." Zubiri said the President finds his proposal "interesting" and a "good idea."      The possible rice crisis is caused by the recent flooding of rice producing provinces and the on-coming El Niño phenomenon. Zubiri explained to the President that these zones should be supervised by assistant secretaries or undersecretaries of the Department of Agriculture (DA). These DA officials, according to Zubiri, should give certified seeds, given modernized equipment, fertilizer, pest controls. They would also be assigned to oversee the harvests in order to create buffer stocks in these regions The Chief Executive, himself also said, that there are problems after the DA functions were devolved to local government units (LGUs), Zubiri disclosed. As an agriculturist, Zubiri pointed out that there are mayors who are not into agriculture and who make the Municipal Agriculture Officers (MAOs) into glorified landscapers who make plazas presentable. "Nawalan na po ng technician yun dahil nga nag-devolve na sa mga provincial, municipal and city offices ang trabaho ng DA (Because of devolution, there are no more technicians in the provincial, municipal and city offices)," he pointed out. Zubiri said he explained to the President that the DA has thousands of employees in the regional level waiting to be tapped to monitor the rice production program. He revealed that the Philippines, through the International Rice Research Institute based in Los Banos, Laguna, has many varieties that can survive floodwaters for as long as three weeks. "So may mga alternatives tayo (We have alternatives). So that was basically what we were discussing with the President," he said.