Food shortage--why people don't believe the government

One survey answers my question here--one out of two Filipinos distrust Arroyo. That's why even if her lieutenants, such as Department of Agriculture Secretary Art Yap is telling us the truth, majority still could not believe his explanations. Why? Because government lost the people's trust and whenever they say something, people would always impute ill motives on the part of government.

But, Yap must admit something--he must admit that government has totally mismanaged the food security aspect of this country. Why? Because, they have been in power for seven years and if Yap says that the DA only needs 10 billion to make this country self-sufficient, why only NOW that he's saying all these things? I mean, Arroyo and her bunch of officials have all the time in the world to fix the problem, why only now that they're on air and almost everywhere, telling us that there's a probable crisis waiting to explode right in our faces?

This is too much already. They bungled governance and worst, we are getting the brunt of their mismanagement. Why do I say such things? Because if they have their priorities right, they should have foreseen this thing from happening years ago. Reports insinuate that agriculture experts have already told the president about this months ago. Still, nothing was done.

Yap says the farmers need support. What? Billions of billions of pesos were allocated for fertilizers and where did it go? It lined the pockets of the First Grafter, err, First Gentleman and such devils as Joc-Joc Bolante! So now, when there's this problem already, government is asking us to give them more and more money!

This is reminiscent of the Power crisis during the time of former president Ramos (pardon me sir, but I have to say this). A series of blackouts broke out in Metro Manila and throughout the country. Ramos asked us to approve the Power Bill, which essentially gave him the power to give power contracts to a select few. What did it amount to? Billions of pesos wasted and lined the pockets of big-time power players! Worst, it jacked up power rates to astronomical numbers.

Now this. I think Yap is just helping the Rice Cartel (made up of seven big-time rice traders) earn billions from us, helpless consumers. Look. The problem, as Yap says, is not about supply, its about PRICE. They are allowing the free falling of the price of rice and who will benefit from this? It's these traders! They import rice by the bulk! Arroyo says nothing to worry about the stock, worry about the price of rice because we will be allowing it to balloon to unreachable prices!

If we allow these devils to fool us again, we must be ashamed of ourselves. If we give billions of pesos for fertilizers and tractors, then, who will benefit the most? Its not the farmers. Many times no! Its the sellers of these farm equipments and the local government executives who'll benefit since these sales would definitely be padded by these unscrupulous individuals! That explains why these executives met Arroyo in Malacanan, to make sure that they have these deals made.

I am not against helping the farmers. No. I will be the last person to object to that. But, trusting this administration of the sensitive and critical job of reforming agricultural sector is what worries me the most. Yes, the agricultural sector needs help. It is ailing. Making this country self-sufficient and totally secured is commendable. But, at the expense of the poor people who'll now scrape for every bit of this precious God-given resource is just inhumane!

I say, let us all suffer from our foolishness. Let this crisis be made full blown. Let all of us hear the grunts and groans of our young. By this, I hope, we will realize that it's time for us, everyone of us, to wake up, rise up and do what is necessary to correct the mistake we made last 2001--annoint a devil as our leader. It is still not too late. We still have time to do this. This devil infant is pulling everyone, even our children, to the deepest pits. We must not let this happen.