Stop Rice Importation, Palparan Urges

Senatorial candidate, Rep. Jovito Palparan of the Bantay Party List is urging the national government to stop importation of rice, saying the country has enough supply of the prime staple.

In calling for a stop to rice importation, Palparan said local farmers are reeling from the economic slowdown which is triggering a series of price increases in almost all kinds of commodities.

Palparan pointed out that in Mindanao alone, rice growers there are shifting to other crops to compensate for losses in the prime cereal production invariably caused by rice importation.

Surplus production in some areas in Mindanao and other rice-producing provinces in Luzon, Palparan said, finds difficulty in trading owing to the cheaper cost of imported rice, particularly those coming from Vietnam and Thailand. The Bantay solon, noted for campaigning hard against the insurgency movement during his tours of duty in the military, said imported vegetables, like rice, command a cheaper price in the market because of lower fertilizer costs in the countries exporting the commodities.

Palparan also raised alarm on the non-stop importation of vegetable products which adversely affects local farmers.

Palparan took exception to claims by economic managers that rice importation is being resorted to by the national government to stabilize the country’s supply. “They are only justifying an issue which does not bode well with the plight of the local farming community,” Palparan said.

Instead of spending for importation, the national government should focus more on improving the support infrastructures for agriculture, like irrigation and post-harvest facilities.

Palparan Bats for Expanded Fertilizer Subsidy

Bantay party-list Rep. Jovito Palparan who is vying for a seat in the Philippine Senate in the May 10 elections has proposed for an expanded fertilizer subsidy to help farmers improve their crop production.

In his proposal, Palparan pointed out that the rising cost of fertilizer is strangulating farmers, especially those marginalized tending small-scale farmers,

Palparan said that while some local government units (LGUs) are extending subsidies to their constituent farmers, the national government through the Department of Agriculture (DA) should help finance the subsidy package.

The Bantay solon vowed to work for the legislation of a subsidy program if he succeeds in getting a seat in the Senate.

Palparan said the subsidy program must be made a top priority in the government’s development agenda since agriculture remains the country’s basic industry.

The high cost of fertilizer is a “pain-in-the-neck” of every farmer whose profit, more often than not, is pegged at break-even level,” Palparan noted.

“Our agriculture production, particularly palay lags behind our Asian neighbors because of the rising cost of fertilizer,” Palparan said.

Palparan Forewarns Against Brush Fires

In the wake of the long dry spell, Bantay Rep. Jovito Palparan asked the public, especially the farming communities, to always be vigilant against sudden brush fires which could escalate and destroy properties.

Palparan made the call after a series of reports on brush fire incidents all over the country, particularly in the Cagayan Valley and Central Luzon regions.

The brush fires affected several hectares of farmlands in Nueva Vizcaya and Isabela and also along the Subic-Clark-Tarlac expressway near the Bataan-Zambales boundary.

Palparan, who is seeking a seat in the Philippine Senate, reminded the people to be always prepared for any eventuality, as he cited weather reports of an extended dry spell.

While there has been no alarm raised yet about a heat wave, Palparan said the consistent rise of temperature over the past days can pose danger to everybody, specially the senior citizens.

Quoting weather experts, Palparan said a heat wave happens when the temperature climbs from 1 to 2 degrees Celsius for two days.

Palparan advised parents not to forget to remind their children to always bring along with them a substantial amount of water in going to school. Owing to the hot weather, kids are prone to dehydration, he said.