Is the outright sale of the FTI the answer?

The government should “reconsider” the decision to sell the Food Terminal Inc. (FTI) complex in Taguig and, instead, find ways to ensure food supply flowing to the metropolis.

We are making great headway, as far as public-private partnerships are concerned, in addressing the myriad issues that threaten food security in the country. Government should reconsider the sale of the entire property in light of the critical effort at achieving food security and access to markets.

The goal of the FTI was to have a food terminal where farmers can drop off their produce so as to bypass the middlemen and allow them to go direct to the market. The biggest market locally is Metro Manila, and direct access to that market would mean better prices for the consumer and higher incomes for a sector that remains poor.

Let’s zero in on increasing the farmers’ incomes. If we secure our farmers and fisherfolk, we achieve food security.

The planned sale of the FTI began a few years back, before the spectre of spiraling world food prices hit us in 2008. We need to rethink the policy given serious major developments in food security requirements.

Let’s look at the objectives of selling the property. If it is for the benefit of the agricultural sector then funds should be used to strengthen the capability of FTI in its role of providing access to markets. Let’s look for other, more creative solutions to retool the FTI. Market access is key to upping our farmers’ income.

Is the outright sale of the FTI the answer? Whether the property is sold or leased out, the proceeds must be plowed back to the agricultural sector, whose budget was cut in 2011. The funds should be used to increase public investments in the agriculture sector such as irrigation, farm to market roads and the construction of post harvest facilities. If we are to privatize what was originally meant to revolutionize the agricultural sector of the country, then it is this sector, first and foremost, that should benefit from this move.

We need to think and do things differently in light of a looming food crisis. Let’s explore the power of partnerships and do so in a way that will ensure the sustainability of our agricultural sector, and adequate and low-priced food supply to our people.

Investigate the controversial NICA report of looming food shortage in the country

We will file a resolution calling for an investigation on the controversial report purportedly released by the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) of a looming food shortage in the country.

Hindi biro ang usaping ito at lubhang napaka-sensitibo para gamitin ng ilang mapagpangahas na grupo o indibidwal para sa sariling interes. If it’s true that this issue is being manipulated to drive prices high, then it’s a matter that needs our serious attention.

We are working closely with the Department of Agriculture in monitoring the state of the nation’s food supply. Together with the COCAFM and the private sector, we created a task force whose mandate is to ensure food security. The task force, named Agriculture and Fisheries 2025 (AF2025), includes all the major players in the food supply chain in the country and aims to provide long-term, sustainable solutions to the various problems that continue to plague the agricultural sector.

Speculation is one of the problems we’ve identified and this needs to be addressed. In this particular case, if we find out that it is manufactured and that unscrupulous traders are behind this, then they should be punished.

Amidst rising global food prices, Prepare for all possible scenarios

There's a need for the government to prepare contingency measures to address rising global food prices but the public and media should temper the issue and not panic.

The inquiry in aid of legislation on the government’s ability to address the sudden increase of the prices of foods and other agricultural products that we presided was conducted precisely to assess the government’s preparedness amidst the prolonged political turmoil in the Middle East and North Africa which at the moment is affecting the price of oil. We invited the DTI, NEDA, and the DA to ensure that prices remain stable and that there is enough supply of food in the country.

We recommend that the government agencies concerned through the Executive Department should look at stockpiling measures much like what other countries are currently doing to protect their buffer of food. We also call the attention of the DTI and consumers to aggressively monitor prices of basic commodities in the market to prevent unscrupulous traders from taking advantage of the situation.

From the reports we gathered, prices of pork and chicken remain stable, and the price of onion has gone down. We also got a report from the NFA that our rice supply is still sufficient. But the price of flour, milk and sugar are going up thereby causing the price of bread to go up. Oil price increases are obviously affecting the prices of all the commodities. These are the reasons why we are conducting this inquiry—to make sure that we are not caught with our pants down in the worst case scenario.

Kinakailangan ay huwag mag-panic ang lahat. Kinakailangan lamang ay maghanda tayo para hindi tayong abutang natutulog sa pansitan sakaling magtuloy-tuloy ang pagtaas ng bilihin.