Mindanao Food Skyway! MinDA READY TO SHIP SUPPLIES TO FLOOD-RAVAGED PROVINCES

In the face of a feared food shortage in the flooded areas of Luzon, especially the Cagayan Valley Region, here are some inputs for immediate action:

1. The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) could consolidate food supplies produced by farmers and fishermen of the region which could be airlifted to the flood-ravaged areas in Luzon.

Mindanao farmers are well-organized, especially the hog, poultry, rice, vegetable and fisheries sectors. Their products could be immediately airlifted to Tuguegarao from as far as Tawitawi as MinDA has an existing program called the Mindanao Food Skyway in cooperation with PSI Air 2007 which owns three Boeing Cargo Jets.

2. The National Food Authority (NFA) in the flood-ravaged areas should be given the mandate and provided funds to pay for the food items delivered by Mindanao farmers and fishermen. This is the time for NFA to really function as a Food Agency of government, not just a rice buffer stocking.

The NFA should handle the storage and distribution of these food items to prevent overpricing and ensure equitable sharing of supplies.

For medium and long term:

1. The Department of Agriculture should revisit a program I designed and proposed before I resigned as DA Secretary, called the Southern Swing, which proposed more budget for food production in Samar and other southern provinces.

2. The NEDA-ICC should now act on the Israeli Government offer to fund via soft loan of P44-B Solar Powered Irrigation Systems (SPIS) intended to provide irrigation water to at least 500,000-hectares.

The proposed program was submitted to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) for review and approval almost two years ago.

#FailingToPlanIsDisaster!

#MindanaoFoodSkyway!