Working for food sufficiency

By Herbert Vego

THE other day, we chanced upon Rep. Wilbert T. Lee, who was here in Iloilo City for a speaking engagement.

Lee, 55, who represents the Agri party-list, is passionate about turning our country around from rice importer to rice exporter once again.  He must have learned from his elders that we used to be a rice exporter; as we ought to be because of our fertile rice lands.

“We have a DA,” he joked, referring to the Department of Agriculture, “which has turned into a DI – Department of Importation – due to insufficiency of the budget for rice production and post-harvest facilities.”

He was among the congressmen who requested for a budget of P513 billion for the Department of Agriculture for 2025, but the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) granted only P200 billion, which has probably lower value – no thanks to inflation — than the 2024 budget of P197. 84 billion.

Given the opportunity, he would run for the Senate, where he could be in a better position to pass pro-farming bills into laws.  He could do for rice what he had done for salt.

Lee is the principal author of a dozen laws, of which the Philippine Salt Industry Development Act (RA11985) stands out. Signed into law by Pres Marcos on March 11, 2024, it aims to revitalize the neglected salt industry.  We have more than enough salt for ourselves.

“We are on the way to being a salt exporter,” he said.

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IS SUSPENSION OF 8 ANTIQUE SPs CORRECT?

THE resolution of the Ombudsman suspending eight members of the Sangguninang Panlalawigan for six months without pay by the Ombudsman smacks of impropriety.

They had allegedly violated the law, RA 6713, on grave abuse of authority,

The SPs believe that their suspension stemmed from the action of the SPs to allot a zero budget for the purchase of P765 million worth of solar equipment as proposed by Gov. Dodod Cadiao as Supplemental Budget No. 1.

How could that be anomalous, asked former Valderrama mayor Ray Roquero, when their motive is to prevent the loss of millions of pesos that could otherwise be spent for ample medical care for the people, and aid to the poor and senior citizens?

Roquero and Cadiao used to be political allies.  This time, however, he is running for governor against whomever she is aligned with.  The graduating governor is running for mayor against re-electionist congressman Antonio Agapito Legarda.

“We are fighting for what is right, legal, and moral,” hollered Mayella Mae Plameras, one of the suspended eight.  The others are Rony Molina, Dong Elio, Victor Condez, Dondon Niquia, Panoy Sanchez, Nonoy Tajanlangit and KD Gasalao – have ceased to be political allies of Cadiao.

What would it profit the suspended board members? Nothing I can think of.

But it could mean fat wads for “commissioners” within the Cadiao political camp.

The huge amount of P765 million, meant to provide alternative energy whenever the Antique Electric Cooperative (ANTECO) conks out, is not necessary. Let ANTECO kalot its katol.

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ALLIANCE OF ANTIQUE ‘INDEPENDENTS’ MULLED

WITH so many trapos vying for major political positions in 2025, outgoing SP Pio Jessielito Sumande, who openly admits he is “the poorest,” thinks of running as an independent candidate for vice-governor in 2025.

Our good friend and political analyst Joe Escartin believes that Sumande would make it because most of the poor voters would support him.

Spending only “barya lang” for his SP campaign in 2022, he placed 5^th.

“In 2025, he could align himself with better-situated independent candidates,” said Joe, “such as shipping magnate Vicente Fedelicio for governor and lawyer Cornelio Aldon for congressman.”