By Ephraim Aguilar
Inquirer Southern Luzon
LEGAZPI CITY--GOV. JOEY Salceda slammed the executive order signed Monday by Bohol Gov. Erico Aumentado regulating Bohol’s outbound rice shipment, calling it a “very parochial” move.
The executive order allows large traders, as classified by the National Food Authority, to ship only 500 sacks (at 50 kg each) in a week while each medium and small trader can ship 300 sacks and 100 sacks, respectively, every week.
Aumentado issued the order after he received reports from rice traders about the abnormal buying trend for husked and milled rice by dealers from other provinces, which, he said, would prejudice the supply of rice in Bohol.
Salceda asked Aumentado to reconsider the order restricting the export of Bohol’s rice output and the Department of the Interior and Local Government to strike down the executive order.
“My province is a major rice producer but our big population results in annual deficit of 1.6 million bags,” Salceda said.
“While it is given that it is the duty of governors to protect the welfare of their people in securing their food needs, the best way to achieve that is to cooperate with national authorities,” he added.
Bohol is the top producer of rice in Central Visayas with a production of 167,411 metric tons of rice in 2007, according to the Department of Agriculture.
Salceda said that even if Aumentado cited the General Welfare Clause of the Local Government Code of 1991 as the basis for issuing the executive order, it could only worsen a precarious national situation.
“It would impede trade and increase the national required buffer. It would further heighten price pressures. The consequences are unacceptable,” he said.
“We’re all in this together. Everyone should do his share to help solve this crisis,” he added.
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