Bill seeks to ensure food security for Pinoys
A House leader filed a measure that seeks to ensure enough supplies and strengthen food security for all Filipinos.
In filing House Bill 864, House Committee on Poverty Alleviation chair 1PACMAN Rep. Michael “Mikee” Romero underscored the need to have a permanent and lasting solution to recurring food supply shortage.
According to Romero, the government should not rely more on importation to supplement its food needs.
“We must review the mandate and flow of operations of all our government agencies involved in the production and distribution of all our key food products (especially rice) to improve synergy in pursuant to the mandate of this bill,” Romero said.
He added that since rice is the national staple food, the government must ensure its sufficient production by involving as many stakeholders as possible in the agricultural sector.
“This measure envisions a highly acceptable and perpetual solution to the perennial problem on the supply of our key food products. It has been proven that the food supplies from overseas sources are very erratic and therefore very unreliable,” he added.
Under the measure, a Food Security Council, which the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture is the chairman, must be created.
The council is task to encourage farmers to produce more to meet the domestic food demand.
On the other hand, the council must provide the farmers with adequate support through irrigation, better seedlings, enhanced stocking, improved farm mechanization and accessible and agricultural credits.
It has been the policy of the state to ensure sufficient grains and all other key products specifically those manufactured from domestically land-based agricultural activities.
