Imelda must be snickering

Yes former First Lady and Congresswoman Imelda Romualdez Marcos must be feeling amused at how the current government is dealing with the “Garlic Crisis of 2014.”

In case you were not born yet or never knew about it, Imelda Marcos and her technocrats were the one who dreamt, built and operated the Metro Manila Food Terminal Inc. which was suppose to be the gigantic “Bagsakan” or agricultural trading post for Metro Manila where farmers and traders could bring their different agricultural products and sell direct to fellow traders or consumers. The idea was to centralize the sources and to cut out the middlemen who were always taking advantage of growers and overpricing with consumers. For all the politics and flaws, many consumers and growers still believe that it was and still is a good idea.

Yesterday, I learned that the Department of Agriculture had sent a supply truck full of garlic to a well-known public market to temporarily meet the shortage of supply and hopefully bring down prices. The unit that was in charge is called the “Agri Business Marketing Assistance Office” of the Department of Agriculture. During Imelda’s day, they had a bigger version that was called “Rolling Stores” and those stores had more products, even grocery items and were located in many places all over Metro Manila.

Obviously, a good solution will always reappear whenever it is needed. Who cares who did it first or who had the original idea, at the moment we have a big opportunity to restudy the supply chain problem of agricultural products and producers and come up with improvements or reapply what works, what is successful and beneficial. The only waste of time is when we apply those solutions as temporary measures, “mini-me” models and not go nationwide which would surely stimulate national productivity and trade in agricultural products. Sending out one garlic truck to appease the “garlic starved” rich people is equivalent to coming out with the wrong solution because we addressed the wrong problem.  To spoof Marie Antoinette: “Let the rich use salt.”

As P-Noy used to say often: “We need to know the right problem in order to come up with the right solution.” Our problem is getting the products to the right market and not just any market. Farm to market roads are not the solutions, transport and government agencies such as the “Agri-business Marketing Assistance Office.” The now deceased FTI or Food Terminal Inc., nationwide livestock markets and government indicated price index are some of the solutions that should be put in place.

Aside from establishing trading posts and agricultural markets nationwide, the executive department should address once and for all the continued operations of “highway robbers in uniform” who have established their own “supply chain” to extort money from growers, vendors and traders of agricultural products especially livestock. The government should even investigate protectionist ordinances regarding slaughter and handling because one day, the suppliers may just smarten up and declare: If the cities of Metro Manila insist on getting their livestock their way, they can come and get it themselves or raise for themselves! If truckers can declare “protest holidays,” the farmers, livestock raisers may one day do the same.

Between Secretaries Alcala and Pangilinan, there are enough brains and farmers to develop great ideas and solutions towards efficient food distribution and food security.

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I don’t know if I heard it right but a report quoted Malacañang sources as saying that if they had to, the Palace was willing to appoint someone to take charge of law enforcement and to take charge of the peace and order problem in Metro Manila and all over the country. That would amount to an “in your face” statement to DILG Secretary Mar Roxas and PNP Chief Alan Purisima that people in Malacañang have come to realize their ineffectiveness and are considering alternatives. The fact that President Noynoy Aquino himself had to take up the problem of peace and order during Monday’s Cabinet meeting confirms the fact that we can’t expect much in terms of initiative from Mar Roxas and PNP Chief Alan Purisima.

Since the President has already taken the initiative (something he has delightfully been doing the past few weeks), the President may want to consider jump-starting or warming up relations with local government officials particularly mayors and studying how he can once again empower them to be in charge of local police matters and officials. Many mayors I have spoken with seem to share the common sentiment that the President overlooks the role, the potential service, and support mayors can give to the President’s platforms and concerns.

Unfortunately energy vampires from the Liberal Party and his Cabinet, many of whom have proven ineffective if not downright damaging, have sucked much of the President’s time. Yes they pander to the President’s sentiments but achieve very little in terms of recognizable and commendable accomplishments. The mayors on the other hand are the first line representation of the Executive Department; they are on the ground and have to deal with problems and concerns. Ironically, they have no say, no control over police matters considering that many peace and order problems mayors have to deal with often involve the police as perpetrators or the police failing to do their jobs on a daily basis. The president should also look into the “show and tell” game being played by aspirants who want to be the next chief PNP. They come up with all sorts of gimmicks but not enough arrests and drug busts which again is the right real problem!

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It’s very Filipino to suspect or express apprehension that a new law will simply result in more extortion. When the Anti-Drunk Driving law was passed, the loudest howl was that traffic enforcers and policemen will surely wait outside bars to pounce on unsuspecting drivers who will be victimized by extortionist cops.  Senator Tito Sotto’s reply was simple: “Don’t drink and drive.” When the LTFRB announced the P1 million fine for colorum buses, the operators howled that they too will be victims of extortion and that the stiff fine will result in corruption. Well then: Obey the law!