Quo vadis, Guico administration?
FOR the past 11months, nothing has been heard from both Gov. Ramon Guico III and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan about a general direction and programs to boost livelihood of farmers and fisherfolks amid continued rising prices of basic commodities.
The provincial government has not submitted a single plan for intervention, neither has it attempted to propose a need to verify supply and stocks of rice, corn and onion in storage, to support or validate, even to negate the confusing forecasts of the Department of Agriculture headed by President Marcos Jr. himself.
When PBBM declared war on smugglers, hoarding traders- “Your days are numbered” – in July, no reaction was heard from the Guico government about what it can do to support the national government’s campaign to stabilize supply and costs of production amid spiraling prices of the commodities in the local markets.
Why the provincial government appears not to be keen on providing funding and material support to farmers in the face of worsening climate change, flooding thousands of hectares of farmlands each time a typhoon hits home, is puzzling.
Nothing has been heard from it at any time about need to subsidize crop insurance of at least rice farmers as if Pangasinan’s main industry is not agriculture.
But Mr. Guico, backed by his loyal Vice Governor Mark Lambino and his provincial board, were always quick to secure their and department heads’ extended leaves of absences for leisure travel overseas at an unprecedented level so far.
Then comes their full endorsement for securing the local franchise of the Miss World beauty pageant to be backed by the province’s funds. To boost our farmers’ livelihood?
Pangasinenses don’t deserve this government’s completely misguided priorities from their elected officials.
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