Aksyon Demokratiko standard bearer Isko Moreno Domagoso on Monday said he will pursue programs for the country’s food self-sufficiency amid the uncertainties brought about by the ongoing political turmoil in Ukraine, which is a major source of imported wheat, an important ingredient in making bread.
“We cannot rely on food imports to control food price inflation. When things go awry on the other side of the world, like this Russia-Ukraine conflict where, apart from gas and oil, as well as wheat, potatoes, corn and so on, what if we lose the supply of imported food and basic necessities?” Moreno said in interview with reporters at the San Andres Sports Complex.
Domagoso, along with Manila Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna, visited the fresh batch of food boxes which are scheduled for distribution this month of March to 700,000 families residing in the six districts of Manila.
This is part of the city government’s Food Security Program (FSP), which Domagoso launched at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020.
“We need to increase agricultural production. Let’s strive for food self-sufficiency. We still have a lot of desolate land, we are surrounded by the sea with fish. It is a matter of the highest priority, because food insecurity is the biggest threat to national security,” he added.
The political crisis between Russia and Ukraine is seen to threaten the food supply and livelihoods of people in Europe, Africa and Asia who rely on the vast, fertile farmlands of the Black Sea region known as the “breadbasket of the world.”
Russia and Ukraine combine for nearly a third of the world’s wheat and barley exports. Ukraine also is a major supplier of corn and the global leader in sunflower oil, used in food processing.
While there have not yet been global disruptions to wheat supplies, prices have surged 55 percent since a week before the invasion of Ukraine amid concerns about what could happen next. If the war is prolonged, countries that rely on affordable wheat exports from Ukraine could face shortages starting in July, according to the International Grains Council.
Aside from the crisis in Ukraine, Moreno is not discounting the possibility of another flashpoint nearer the Philippines and this is the brewing conflict between China and Taiwan which is separated by a narrow sea lane called the Taiwan Strait.
“Food security is very important. During the pandemic we felt that, now there is uncertainty in the world because there is so much animosity between countries so not far away, I hope it doesn’t happen, as I mentioned in the possible crisis in Taiwan where life and safety will be in jeopardy of about 150,000 OFWs, so that’s my commitment here,” Domagoso said during his sortie in Cagayan Valley region and Kalinga province over the weekend.
“If food security is the number one threat to national security, then the country and the state must invest on our Filipino farmers. And if we can uplift our farmers’ lives, we will make a massive stride towards eradicating poverty,” the 47-year-old presidential candidate said.
Agriculture is one of the main pillars of Team Isko’s 10-point Bilis Kilos Economic Agenda which is his administration’s blueprint to accelerate human and economic growth.
Besides giving agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) the rightful ownership of the lands awarded to them, Moreno said among the first economic policies that his government will introduce is to cut the excise tax of petroleum products by 50 percent to bring down the prices basic commodities and raise the income of farmers and fisherfolks.
The Aksyon Demokratiko presidential bet had said his administration will buy the rice and vegetables of local farmers at the right price to assure them of their income and help them become competitive. He will also issue clear guidelines about the strict importation of agricultural products to make sure that local producers can sell their products first before importation is made.