THE prices of rice, garlic and onions, three basic commodities produced in Pangasinan, have been increasing for over a year but consumers and households have not heard of plans and strategy from the Guico administration that can assure them of efforts to stabilize prices.

Nothing has been heard from Governor Ramon Guico III nor from his economic team how the provincial government views the problem and what it thinks it can and should do to mitigate the impact of these commodities’ decreasing supply in Pangasinan.

The need for Governor Guico to articulate his plan and his vision on these issues has become even more urgent in the face of the start of El Niño phenomenon this month.

Is the provincial government incapable of forming a task force, at the very least, to address the farmers’ production capacity, storage problems, and ultimately, the food situation?

The Guico administration cannot simply rely on the Marcos government’s initiatives to resolve the worsening supply of these commodities. So far, the only relevant initiative of the Guico administration was to issue executive orders banning entries of hogs and pork from outside to protect the local supply of hogs from the African Swine Fever (ASF).

Surely, a regular consultation with the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG), headed by Engr. Rosendo So, can open the eyes of members of an economic team to various options and possibilities. But since nothing of this activity was ever reported by the Provincial Information Office since the governor assumed office in July 2022,  no wonder Gov. Guico has not dared to speak a word on the issue.

Even more disappointing is the continued disregard of the situation of the farmers by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan. It has turned a deaf ear as if its task is merely to wait for a signal before it can initiate anything. Since the governor has had nothing to offer, our board members have nothing to offer as well. Why do they continue to avoid filing resolutions and scheduling investigations during their Question Hour on the problems of our farmers, worsening shortage of production, need for crop insurance for farmers?]

Is the “No talk, no mistake” policy of the governor already the adopted policy of the supposed “independent” SP as well? Is it their mandate only to do everything, anything in sync with the governor’s activities – from foreign travels to filing of leaves of absences?

Pangasinenses deserve better governance from their governor and board members.

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