By Manny Piñol
President Rody Duterte’s historic decision to provide Filipino rice farmers with free irrigation was received with exultation by people in the countryside, knowing how big a relief it would be for the poor in the countryside.
I was aghast, however, by the reaction of some sectors to the granting of an additional P2.3-billion budget to the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) to cover the irrigation fees collected from the farmers.
“Where will we get that kind of money?” “That is not sustainable.” were among the comments I heard in reaction to the free irrigation grant of President Duterte.
What?
Did I hear these same people roar in anger following the discovery of the theft of over P10-B in agriculture funds in the Janet Lim Napoles scam?
Look guys, the P2.3-B support for free irrigation which would benefit 2.5-million farming families who produce rice for the country, is not even one half of the cost of one phase of the Metro Manila Skyways which have been built, and are still being built, at staggering costs of hundreds of billions.
So you say that the Skyways are sustainable because they help decongest traffic in Metro Manila?
Let me give you a short lecture on President Duterte’s “Cause of the Cause of the Cause.”
What caused the over-congested population in Metro Manila in the first place?
Answer? People from the provinces who come to Metro Manila in search of better paying jobs.
Why are rural people flocking to the big cities?
Answer? There are simply no job and income opportunities in the countryside.
Why are there no jobs and income opportunities in the countryside?
Answer? It is because of metropolitan based planners and economic managers who believe that investing in countryside development is a risky proposition.
These are the same people who are busy thinking of how to make sure that people in Metro Manila do not squeeze one another to death in the congested roads and MRTs rather than come up with solutions on how to convince these people to go home to the provinces by creating job and income opportunities.
Let me cite scandalous statistics.
The average family income in Makati City is P534,058 per year or roughly $11,000.
In contrast, the average family income in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao is P79,590 per year and P78,408 in Western Samar. That’s roughly $1,600 annually.
Now, does that answer your question why there are many Maranaos in Quiapo and Warays in the slums of Metro Manila?
Here’s more.
The poverty incidence per family in the 2nd district of National Capital Region which includes Mandaluyong, Marikina, Pasig, Quezon City, San Juan is 3.1%.
In the 4th District of NCR which includes Las Pinas, Makati, Muntinlupa, Paranaque, Pasay City, Pateros, Taguig and the City of Manila is 3.8%.
In contrast, here are the poverty incidences in the 10 Poorest Provinces of the country:
– Lanao del Sur – 68.9%
– Apayao – 59.8%
– Eastern Samar – 59.4%
– Maguindanao – 57.8%
– Zamboanga del Norte – 50.3%
– Davao Oriental – 48%
– Ifugao – 47.5%
– Sarangani – 46.5%
– Negros Oriental – 45.3%
– Masbate – 44.2%
What is funny is that there is no official report on the poverty incidence in Sulu Province.
The reason for that is obvious. Who would dare conduct a poverty survey in a province where the Abu Sayyaf kidnaps people and beheads them when they do not pay the ransom?
So, this is the true picture and I would like those who question the generosity of President Duterte to the poor to understand this.
I would like them also to understand why President Duterte is hell bent in reaching out to the Communists and the Moro secessionist groups to come to the peace table.
Also, I would like people who are critical of President Duterte’s “soft landing” approach in settling the West Philippine Sea row with China to understand his mindset.
China does not own the Scarborough Shoal. That has been established by the International Arbitration Court, a ruling on a celebrated case filed by the Philippines which undoubtedly embarrassed China.
Instead of rubbing it in, President Duterte assumes a position of strength by allowing the Chinese to save face and negotiating for the best terms in trade and commerce with a country which is without doubt the biggest consumer of our agriculture and fisheries products.
President Duterte, a former rural city Mayor, understands that the hope of this country for peace and true progress is to develop the countryside by creating jobs and income opportunities.
Indeed, massive investments in agriculture, fisheries and countryside development must be implemented if this country hopes to solve the great disparity in the lives of Makati City and Samar residents.
I am happy that mine is no longer just a voice in the wilderness.
President Duterte stands as the man who will correct the age-old injustice, once and for all.
(Photos downloaded from Google.)
More Stories
Practical Farming: Turn Used Plastic Containers Into Life-Time Laying Nests!
Super Bulb Onion Grown In Alamada, North Cotabato
Kapehan With Pareng Gob