Duterte gov’t aims for rice self-sufficiency in 2 years

The Duterte administration intends to push for self-sufficiency in rice production within two years—the success or failure of which could spell the fate of the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) regional directors.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol Friday said the government intended to achieve this goal in four cropping cycles.

Piñol earlier gave conflicting pronouncements on the new administration’s target.

Three weeks ago, following a transition meeting at the DA, Piñol said the Duterte government would maintain the aspiration for self-sufficiency except that there was no target date. He then said this could be attained within the next six years or even after Duterte’s term.

About a week later, in a Facebook post, Piñol said self-sufficiency—which he described as “tough but doable”—would be attained under Duterte’s leadership.

Last May, Duterte’s campaign spokesperson Pete Laviña told Reuters the new government would work for self-sufficiency in one or two years.

In his latest pronouncement, Piñol said DA regional directors should see to it the two-year objective was achieved in their respective areas or else they would lose their jobs.

“Some of you (regional directors) will be retained, some of you will have to say ‘goodbye,’” he said. “Those who will be retained will be rotated, because I’d like to gauge their performance based on their new assignments.”

He said he would give them all the support they would need, including provisions for irrigation, good seeds, fertilizer and farm inputs.  “But I will give them the sack if they fail. This government is results oriented.”

Piñol said no one has the right to stay working in government if he or she was not effective in the job.

“We will build on the DA’s achievements under [predecessor Proceso Alcala] and fulfill their shortcomings,” he said. Alcala has drawn flak for not meeting the Aquino administration’s target of self-sufficiency by 2013.

When Alcala assumed office in mid-2010, the Philippines was producing 81 percent of domestic rice demand. DA data show the Philippines is currently  97 percent self-sufficient in rice.