Even If PH DA Were A Good Team, It’s Managing The Wrong Team! The Right Team Is “Food Security” & Not “Rice Self-Sufficiency”

An agriculturist and essayist, I must congratulate President Ferdinand “BBM” Marcos Jr for now recognizing the value of the “goal of a food-secure nation.” Has BBM’s advisers been reading the just-published book, “No Free Lunch,” by ex-NEDA chief Cielito F Habito? If not, they should!

My quote above comes from the news report by ANN (Author Not Named, 29 Nov 2023, “On PBBM Order, DA To Urgently Modernize Agriculture, Ensure Food Security” (da.gov.ph):

In a speech read by Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr. at Ugnay Palay: The 35th National Rice R4D Conference in Nueva Ecija on Wednesday (Nov 29), President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said government is adopting a science-based approach to rice farming to increase yield and establish “a sustainable rice value chain.”

The DA aiming for a “Sustainable rice value chain” – good! What took you so long?!

“I am optimistic that all concerned government agencies, partners, and stakeholders will continue to explore ways to enhance existing agricultural technologies to improve and strengthen the rice industry, in line with our goal of a food-secure nation,” he said.

Finally? “With our goal of a food-secure nation” – that’s a mouthful, and a mindful – from BBM! His advisers now are waking up to the realities of PH agriculture vis-à-vis other countries but also about his erstwhile Department of Agriculture (DA).

I note 2 things there: BBM says PH is going after (1) “a sustainable rice value chain,” and (2) “food security.” The DA people are finally waking up?

Now, having read and reread Doc Ciel’s book “No Free Lunch,” what is missing is the DA leadership “steering the boat” (Doc Ciel’s language) while the local government units (LGUs) are “doing the rowing.” Today, the DA is the One-And-Only Team – it is doing the steering and rowing at the same time!
(“Good” from shutterstock.com, “Team” from potential.com)

I blogged Friday, “Missing The Right Leader Of PH DA – Doc Ciel Says DA Should Lead & Let The LGUs Directly Aid The Farmers. Else, I Say, History Repeats Itself!” (08 Dec 2023, Re-Discovering Heroes, blogspot.com). box

As of today, the DA is also implementing projects such as in the boondocks of Quezon Island when it should only be managing from Quezon City. That is the main lesson we get from Doc Ciel’s book – In the matter of projects, the DA should be the one dictating where the boat is going; the LGUs should be the rowers. Today? The DA people are also the rowers themselves. Unfortunately!

Note the very title of my 3^rd selection from Doc Ciel’s book: “Selections From The Book (3): Doc Ciel Says, “Food Security, Not Rice Self-Sufficiency!” (26 Nov 2023, The Editor In Chief, blogspot.com) where I quote Doc Ciel:

I’ve never said that the Philippines cannot be rice self-sufficient, as scientists and others often insist. The issue has always been: at what cost?

The problem I see is that the DA insists that it be the whole team! At what cost? No food security!@517