As I prepare for a possible return to public service as Governor of North Cotabato, I have designed a program which would make my home province a self-sustaining “Food Republic” supplying the food requirements of its people by boosting the production of farmers.
This will start with the “Cotabato Rice Republic” which will protect local rice farmers from exploitative and manipulative rice trading and ensure consumers of affordable rice.
Here is how the “Cotabato Rice Republic” will work:
- The Provincial Government will create a digital database of all rice farmers in North Cotabato, including Upland Rice farmers, to determine the total area covered by rice farming;
- A province-wide Soil Analysis to cover all rice farming areas will be conducted to determine the fertilization requirements of all rice farmers followed by technology training to be provided by outstanding rice farmers, like top Rice Farmer Danilo Arcalaes Bolos of Nueva Ecija;
- Based on the accurate digital data, the Provincial Government, supported by the Department of Agriculture National Rice Program, will provide all accredited rice farmers with high-yielding seeds, fertilizer and farm inputs;
4, Modern agricultural equipment like drones to undertake simultaneous pest protection operations, harvesters and trucks to bring the harvests to community dryers which will be established by the Provincial Government in all rice production areas;
- The Provincial Government, through an Economic Enterprise Office and with the support of the PhilMech of the Dept. of Agriculture, will establish a modern Rice Processing Complex;
- The Provincial Economic Enterprise Office for the Rice Republic Program will buy farmers’ produce at not less than P22 per kilo which when milled in local rice processing facilities, or later in a Provincial Rice Processing Complex, will be packed in 25-kilo bags carrying a local brand and sold in the market at P45 per kilo.
- Rice Production in excess of the local requirements could be shared with other LGUs in the urban areas through a partnership program which will establish a “Bigasan Ng Bayan.”
This is the same Corporate Concept Blueprint which will be implemented for Corn, Fruits, Rubber, Coconut, Livestock and Free-Range Chicken.
This is a program will increase the productivity of farmers, ensure affordable rice for local consumers while protecting both the farmers and consumers creating an autonomous Rice Republic.
While this program will initially be operated by the Provincial Economic Enterprise Office, the long-term objective is to allow the organized rice farmers to take over and manage the Rice Republic.
In 5 Years, North Cotabato will grow from a province with one of the highest poverty incidence at 29% and child malnutrition rate of 33%, into a home of Economically Progressive and Healthy Families.
