Binigyan ng bagsak na grado ng Rice watchdog group na Bantay Bigas si Pangulong Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. bilang kalihim ng Department of Agriculture.
Ayon kay Bantay Bigas Spokesperson Cathy Estavillo, ‘failing grade of 5’ to ‘passing score of 7.5’ ang grado kay Pangulong Marcos.
“We are giving him a failing mark of five. He did not do anything to address the food crisis. The government was totally dependent on importation to address the shortage in the local production, particularly onions, sugar, meat, fish and rice,” pahayag ni Estavillo.
Isang taon na si Pangulong Marcos sa tungkulin nitong Hunyo 30. Sa ilalim anya ng pamumuno nito sa DA ay tumaas ang presyo ng sibuyas, asukal at bigas.
Umabot sa P720 ang kada kilo ng sibuyas noong Disyembre 2022 habang P110 ang presyo ng asukal.
“There is no clear solution on how to strengthen the local production… The promise of P20 (per kilo of rice) is a big lie as the retail price of the rice is now doubled,” pahayag ni Estavillo.
Sinabi naman ni Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) Executive Director Jayson Cainglet na 7.5 ang grado nila kay Pangulong Marcos.
“The agriculture sector was neglected for the past 20 to 25 years, especially the last six years. By choosing to be the concurrent secretary of agriculture, he set the right policy direction that this government is giving special attention to the agriculture sector,” pahayag ni Cainglet.
