Containing the C-RICE-SIS: Official Statement of the CSSP Student Council
For the past weeks, we have seen the dramatic surge in the prices of local commodities, particularly that of rice, our country’s staple food. The Bureau of Agricultural Statistics recently stated that the price of Well Milled Rice (WMR) has rapidly increased from last week’s 30.64/kg to its current price of 32.18/kg. Furthermore, last year’s original price amounts to only 24.14/kg, hence indicating a sudden increase of 35.68% within the year. These numbers have translated into increased alarm and distress among the people, particularly among those who live with meager salaries and limited access to resources. Manifestation of such has been observed from private groups who dazedly hoard stocks for their own benefit, to families who continually crowd markets, in hope of availing cheap NFA rice. These, along with other imminent setbacks from the agricultural sector point that indeed, a problem exists – a point of conflict, which, if not given necessary attention, may lead to further political turmoil and deep social unrest.
The problem, although wide in scope, may principally be rooted in the ineffectiveness of our local institutions to carry out correspondingly viable solutions. While we acknowledge the far-reaching adverse effects of some global phenomena such as climate change and increased consumption, we must also highlight the problems of our local agricultural sector. The inadequacy of irrigation systems, the lack of commercialized rice seedlings and the alarming decrease in the number of fertile lands continue to persist. Moreover, the government’s inability to strengthen the NFA results to the perpetuating collusion of private companies, who monopolize the rice industry. These problems remain unaddressed mainly because of the fact that the agricultural sector, up to now, receives insufficient budget from the government.
We, the CSSP Student Council 2008-2009, believe that measures should have been taken to lessen the grave impacts we are suffering as a consequence of this rice shortage. On the local level, agricultural policies should have been implemented properly not only to sustain our domestic needs for food but more so to ensure the welfare of our farmers. Consequently, we call not only for a comprehensive agrarian reform program but ultimately, for a genuine agrarian reform law – one that will best serve the interests of the farmers rather than that of the landlords, who for years, have resorted to desperate ways to maintain hold on their properties. Also, government agencies must be sufficiently empowered in order for them to actually carry out their respective functions. Globally, we urge the government to review and evaluate existing trade agreements, along with the country’s current status with the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. National interest must be the core consideration of our legislators, not the selfish motives and interests of the few.
The problem is not simply about having less food to eat, nor is it just about lacking a basic commodity; the problem is about how this issue has pervaded through the social, cultural and economic spheres of our society. As students of a college that prides itself in its long tradition of critical thinking and active involvement, we ought to take the crucial first steps towards awareness and participation. From the simplest deed of finishing our food, to the act of calling for a more responsible government, we can respond to the issue. By simply recognizing our roles as scholars for the country, we can make a difference.
1 Bureau of Agricultural Statistics <http://www.bas.gov.ph/amsad_price1.php>
“Philosophers have only INTERPRETED the world, in various ways; the point, however, is to CHANGE it.” - Karl Marx
Or in other words, how exactly do we achieve the change you propose? We simply finish our food or call for the government to change? And out of thin air, it will immediately translate into such? This brand of rhetoric recalls to mind a passage from F. Sionil Jose’s novel “Mass”:
[There was this show-off from the U.P., who commented for more than fifteen minutes over Philippine-American relations after our guest speaker that day - a writer of considerable background & knowledge - talked about the American sugar quota and its support of the oligarchy.
The UP Delegate was a nice fellow, but merely repeating what everyone else already knew, and Betsy waved her hand to interrupt him and, when hepaused, she simply annihilated him: “we all know how much you hate American Imperialism. Will you please tell us how we can dismantle it?”]
^^ Mind if I ask you what’s your thought about this, given that, as you say, the statement herein is merely “rhetorical”. So, how do we solve the rice crisis?
In a nutshell: propaganda drive to heighten awareness & understanding of the systemic roots of the chronic Philippine crisis -> participation of the broad masses in an extra-constitutional removal of GMA -> transition council.
We first establish the context that the root of this crisis is from the persisting outdated agricultural system, and with the fact that our country is largely agricultural and thus our economy is dependent on this system, and with the development of this system stunted by our government’s subservience to the imperialist US’s globalization schemes.
The answer? Genuine Land Reform - by completely giving the land back to the peasant farmers (of which consists of 75% of the population) and providing long-term, sustainable subsidies for development, we are able to address the pervading backward, landlord-type agriculture. By freeing & developing it we strengthen our local agricultural industries, eliminate the monopoly of the private landlords, and resolve our dependency on foreign markets.
Actions to achieve this is not possible as long as the regime that promotes the status quo is in power. It is through the people’s collective action in which we can achieve real reforms. Parliamentary action, such as pro-people legislation, protest actions & information dissemination is needed to be undertaken to arouse, organize and finally mobilize the masses to fight for these social change, with the primary step being the removal of the head of state, GMA, by any means necessary.
According to a recent column by Isagani Cruz in the Inquirer, the possibilities are down to either Impeachment or Extra-constitutional removal. Seeing as the lower house is full of the regime’s nurtured vultures who are determined to hold off impeachment, we are now left to extra-constitutional removal. By any means achievable, with the most probable being another people power.
Calls for a different brand of people power is indeed in order. The removal should not be followed with constitutional succession, as the means of removal is otherwise. What must follow is the creation of a transitional council, where the different partisan sectors are to be represented according to their proportions. It is only through this achievement of proper representation, where the power is finally at the hands of the broad masses, can true land reform be achieved.
I think that is more substantial than vague calls for awareness and participation. Awareness of what? Participation in what? How about [b]you[/b]? How exactly do you “recognize our roles” bilang mga Iskolar ng Bayan?
1. I agree with the call of genuine agrarian reform. CARP should not be merely extended, by overhauled. It should not only contain provisions about buying targeted lands, but also ensure that basic physical and social infrastructures are put into place. These include farm-to-market roads, capital infusion, and micro-financing and lending. There should also be safeguards against land conversion like high taxation and high conversion costs. There must also be a farmland as collateral provision with the corresponding social counselling to ensure that farmers-owners will not just sell their lands.
2. Agrarian reform should be made an adjunct of any agricultural policy. Agricultural modernization should be geared towards food security, not export. Crop exportation should only be done in excess of those produced for the internal consumption of the country. To this end, AFMA must be revisited and amended; government must invest heavily on agricultural R&D, credit and micro-financing, and capacity-building to ensure that arable lands are made productive to sustain the internal needs of the country.
3. I agree that we cannot divorce policy from politics. Thus, I agree with the removal of Mrs. Arroyo from the presidency. As to what form should the next government take is still subject to intense debate.
Any form of CARP or CRAP extension should be junked and be replaced by the more comprehensive GARB (Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill). The reason why the comprador big-bourgeoisie and other conservative sectors of the state (including the catholic church) is rallying for a such is because, unlike GARB, land distribution in this “20-year exploitative experience”, as the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas puts it, will always be conditional.
Free, no-strings-attached land distribution is what’s needed. Unless given complete independence, the farmers will remain under suppression and exploitation, be it from private or state hands. The reason why the status quo refuses GARB is because they claim it to be unconstitutional; hell, who are they to speak of unconstitutionality when they themselves are the heralds of it? If genuine social service means being unconstitutional, then there is something completely wrong with our constitution.
What’s clear after the removal of GMA is that the broad masses, as the largest stakeholders to Philippine Sovereignty, must be put on even grounds and accordingly to proportion in the decision making - not merely on the ruling oligarchs and technocrats. The transitional council does just that, ensuring that whatever form of government follows, the people will have given it its go-signal.
Any other form that is open to misrepresentation or the concentration of power to the top of the triangle must be vehemently rejected by the people.