KIKO URGES RICE SUFFICIENCY AS NATIONAL POLICY TO PROVIDE LONG-TERM SOLUTION TO RICE PROBLEM; FOOD SECURITY IS A NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUE

Following the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting in Malacañan, Senate Majority Leader and Independent senator Kiko Pangilinan today suggested that in order to solve the current rice problem the government should declare as national policy that we become self-sufficient in the production of rice.

"Ang panawagan natin sa pangulo ay magkaroon na sana ng mas maliwanag na patakaran kung dapat bang maging self-sufficient ang ating bansa sa usapin ng bigas o dapat ba tayong magpatuloy sa patakarang maya't maya ay nag-iimport tayo ng bigas." Kiko said.

Also discussed in the LEDAC meeting was to appoint a rice czar who will monitor the rice problem specifically on the distribution, irrigation repairs and supply

"Naniniwala tayo na dapat ang landas na ating dapat tahakin ay maging self-sufficient na. We should be self-sufficient in rice. At dahil sensitive na rin ang kundisyong ito sa world market, hindi tayo dapat umasa na maya't maya makaka-import tayo lagi. Ito ang tinutulak natin na dapat maging self-sufficient tayo in the next five years." Kiko ended.