A group charged Proseso Alcala of the crime of graft and malversation of public funds. Of course, the question really is, will the President even mind this or lend his attention?
President Aquino seemed convinced personally that he has maintained a well-behaved cabinet. Look at his cabinet. With the exception of a very few who were actually appointed to their posts due to political considerations, no one in the original list of personally handpicked Cabinet members by Aquino encountered difficulty or was booted out of office.
Every time that someone in his cabinet was attacked, the president was there to defend. Maybe in Proseso Alcala's case, it would be different, and the president looks at this thru objective lens?
Alcala's widescale corruption stinks real bad that the smell even reached the noses of businessmen. As a Quezon native, Alcala should be very well pack his bags and go while he still can.
Showing posts with label department of agriculture. Show all posts
Showing posts with label department of agriculture. Show all posts
Thursday, June 26, 2014
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Rice Cartels in Philippines and Revolutionary Situations
The thing about rice is it is the only confirmed element that affects politics in this country. Traditionally, when you fail in fixing the economy, and fail to anticipate the rise of this basic staple, sure enough, expect a potential crisis in the streets. Marcos experienced that during his term, so does Cory.
Rice in the Philippines is cartelized. Yes, whatever your government says, it is confirmed--there are seven rice cartels here in the Philippines, all controlled by Filipino-Chinese traders.
How to disrupt the movement of rice in the Philippines? Deny these traders the ability to procure imported rice from government stocks. Cartels use legitimate rice traders cooperatives or farmers cooperatives to get rice importation permits. These permits are then used to procure rice from abroad.
What traders do is put aside the whole milled rice with that of the broken. NOrmally, when you buy a kilo of rice, quality is measured on four things:
1. First, aroma.
2. Second, see if the rice is unbroken.
3. Third, see if the rice is clean of debris from milling
4. Fourth, touch if the rice is not powdery
A kilo of rice differs in prices depending on the composition of whole and broken rice. Normally, its 70-30, meaning 70% whole grains with 30% broken ones. The percentage of broken rice decreases if the trader wants to increase price. So price really depends on how small or how little the percentage of broken rice you have in a kilo. If you buy a kilo of whole grain, that is higher than that of all broken rice.
Government, thru the Department of Agriculture, recently set the target rice importation at 700-800,000 tons. The cartel in the Philippines wants it at a million tons. That's why these cartel members are pressuring this government to accede, even dangling juicy offers to DA and NFA officials so that they can make huge profits from the public.
The thing is, its wrong timing.
Everything already shot up in prices and Filipino consumers are really hard pressed. If this government agrees to increase the price of rice, there will be looting and protests everywhere. People can't afford to buy a 50 per kilo of rice. Imagine if you have 5 or even 10 members of your family, eating 10 kilos of broken rice worth 50 pesos. You can't do.
There is a potential political crisis in the offing for this administration. The only reason the environment is still very much "managed" is the fact that cause-oriented organisations are still allied with this administration. If these groups break from the administration, then, we, my friends, will see a full blown revolutionary situation.
Rice in the Philippines is cartelized. Yes, whatever your government says, it is confirmed--there are seven rice cartels here in the Philippines, all controlled by Filipino-Chinese traders.
How to disrupt the movement of rice in the Philippines? Deny these traders the ability to procure imported rice from government stocks. Cartels use legitimate rice traders cooperatives or farmers cooperatives to get rice importation permits. These permits are then used to procure rice from abroad.
What traders do is put aside the whole milled rice with that of the broken. NOrmally, when you buy a kilo of rice, quality is measured on four things:
1. First, aroma.
2. Second, see if the rice is unbroken.
3. Third, see if the rice is clean of debris from milling
4. Fourth, touch if the rice is not powdery
A kilo of rice differs in prices depending on the composition of whole and broken rice. Normally, its 70-30, meaning 70% whole grains with 30% broken ones. The percentage of broken rice decreases if the trader wants to increase price. So price really depends on how small or how little the percentage of broken rice you have in a kilo. If you buy a kilo of whole grain, that is higher than that of all broken rice.
Government, thru the Department of Agriculture, recently set the target rice importation at 700-800,000 tons. The cartel in the Philippines wants it at a million tons. That's why these cartel members are pressuring this government to accede, even dangling juicy offers to DA and NFA officials so that they can make huge profits from the public.
The thing is, its wrong timing.
Everything already shot up in prices and Filipino consumers are really hard pressed. If this government agrees to increase the price of rice, there will be looting and protests everywhere. People can't afford to buy a 50 per kilo of rice. Imagine if you have 5 or even 10 members of your family, eating 10 kilos of broken rice worth 50 pesos. You can't do.
There is a potential political crisis in the offing for this administration. The only reason the environment is still very much "managed" is the fact that cause-oriented organisations are still allied with this administration. If these groups break from the administration, then, we, my friends, will see a full blown revolutionary situation.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Prices of goods skyrocketing: call in the National Army
Food prices are spiralling out of control. I went to the market and found that a kilo of potatoes cost 120 pesos, while a bunch of petchays cost 200,000. 200,000? err...sorry...it's not Prospero Petchay's LWUA party I'm talking about. I was referring to, err, Pichay. Pechays cost 60 pesos.:-)
The DTI imposed a price ceiling, a very nice move on the part of government. And they are thinking of imposing a ceiling to gasoline prices, a very, very good move indeed! Not if Energy secretary Angelo Reyes is to be asked. He wants his cut. And he can't do it with a price ceiling.
How about imposing a price ceiling for medicines? A nice idea, don't you think? Will government do it? I hope they do because people desperately need those medicines since huge portions of Metro Manila are plagued by dengue and other water-borne diseases.
Rice, that precious commodity rose by about one to five pesos, depends on where you buy yours. Mine, I buy it either in Makro (now SM Hypermart) or Puregold. If you buy it from an NFA dealer, you'll buy it two pesos higher. But, that comes with dirt.
Some businessmen would surely take advantage of the situation and either hoard some stuff or rationalize higher price tags. These people should be arrested pronto, paraded and shot in full public view. That will make profiteers think twice before they even do something.
What government should think about is this--this situation has the potential of igniting food riots. People have no money, especially those who lost both their homes and their pieces of property during the storm. And desperate times calls for desperate measures to most people. Remember the social aggression theory? Riots are indeed possible during these critical times, and for government, that means a national security issue.
If government wants to avert such a scenario, they need to act fast. The situation is slowly slipping from their hands. This is an opportunity rarely missed by Leaders with true Machiavellian characters. Anybody with a rifle will surely see this as a chance to make History. Or remake one.
The DTI imposed a price ceiling, a very nice move on the part of government. And they are thinking of imposing a ceiling to gasoline prices, a very, very good move indeed! Not if Energy secretary Angelo Reyes is to be asked. He wants his cut. And he can't do it with a price ceiling.
How about imposing a price ceiling for medicines? A nice idea, don't you think? Will government do it? I hope they do because people desperately need those medicines since huge portions of Metro Manila are plagued by dengue and other water-borne diseases.
Rice, that precious commodity rose by about one to five pesos, depends on where you buy yours. Mine, I buy it either in Makro (now SM Hypermart) or Puregold. If you buy it from an NFA dealer, you'll buy it two pesos higher. But, that comes with dirt.
Some businessmen would surely take advantage of the situation and either hoard some stuff or rationalize higher price tags. These people should be arrested pronto, paraded and shot in full public view. That will make profiteers think twice before they even do something.
What government should think about is this--this situation has the potential of igniting food riots. People have no money, especially those who lost both their homes and their pieces of property during the storm. And desperate times calls for desperate measures to most people. Remember the social aggression theory? Riots are indeed possible during these critical times, and for government, that means a national security issue.
If government wants to avert such a scenario, they need to act fast. The situation is slowly slipping from their hands. This is an opportunity rarely missed by Leaders with true Machiavellian characters. Anybody with a rifle will surely see this as a chance to make History. Or remake one.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Mantika politics
Two things that people here in the Philippines are very concerned about---the rising prices of basic commodities and the increasing number of firms closing due to the recession. Prices of rice, chicken, beef and canned goods have risen to astronomically ridiculous heights. Gasoline prices, which some experts including Consumer Oil Price Watch head Raul Concepcion said were overpriced by 8 pesos, are spiralling out of control. What happened to the Senate probe? What happened to calls for these big oil companies to open their books? Nada. Our leaders are really a useless lot.
What's worst---government admits that vegetable and meat dealers are raking huge profits with these price hikes---and they're not doing anything. DZMM interviewed Department of Agriculture secretary Arthur Yap this morning and he admitted that, indeed, suppliers and sellers in the markets are making a killing. DA is not doing anything about it and surely, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is likewise,inutile.
There are, however, some doubts expressed by some people, suspicion even. They say that prices of goods were artificially raised now so that come the SONA, prices will again "normalize". Mrs. Arroyo would then be able to say that job accomplished. Kumbaga, lulutuin muna tayo ng pamahalaan sa matataas na presyo ng mga bilihin ngayon para pagdating ng Hulyo 27, uutusan ng pangulo ang DTI na pipiliting maibaba ang mga presyong ito para maging accomplishment ng administrasyon. Galing ano?
What's worst---government admits that vegetable and meat dealers are raking huge profits with these price hikes---and they're not doing anything. DZMM interviewed Department of Agriculture secretary Arthur Yap this morning and he admitted that, indeed, suppliers and sellers in the markets are making a killing. DA is not doing anything about it and surely, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is likewise,inutile.
There are, however, some doubts expressed by some people, suspicion even. They say that prices of goods were artificially raised now so that come the SONA, prices will again "normalize". Mrs. Arroyo would then be able to say that job accomplished. Kumbaga, lulutuin muna tayo ng pamahalaan sa matataas na presyo ng mga bilihin ngayon para pagdating ng Hulyo 27, uutusan ng pangulo ang DTI na pipiliting maibaba ang mga presyong ito para maging accomplishment ng administrasyon. Galing ano?
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
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.
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.
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