Rice Shortage in the Philippines

The price of rice is skyrocketing all over the world. This trend will continue until the end of the year, and it is causing panic in many Asian countries, including the Philippines. Why is rice getting more expensive? The rice supply is decreasing. Floods in many Asian countries have affected the rice output in the region.

The Philippines is one of the top importers of rice in the world. Rice is a politically sensitive commodity in this country. It is not surprising that reports of a rice shortage have energized political debate and public concern regarding the economic policies of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

If the global supply of rice is dwindling, what is being done to increase local production? In the first place, why is the Philippines, which is predominantly an agricultural nation, importing rice from other countries?

- by Mong

Rice is the staple food of Filipinos. Remove it from the tables and there will be mass unrest. Blaming the weather and the limited global supply to explain the rice shortage is not enough. The government has to abandon its agricultural liberalization program and its over dependence on rice imports. The government must adopt emergency measures to increase the rice output of farmers. The time has come to implement a genuine agrarian reform.

***I used to be Pro-Gloria. But how can anyone feel safer with Arroyo in the Malacañang Palace when she is directly making the people suffer with such crisis?

How can anyone--ANYONE--imagine that Arroyo is going to bring peace, happiness, and contentment to any corner of this far-reaching and diverse planet? That is, any part that doesn't have massive quantities of rice for plunder.

I hope she chokes on a dried piece of lettuce, that subnormal intelligence cheap cheating lazy greedy dwarf slime wad.

Most of all, I can't believe how little in common I have with the majority of the country. I have never felt less "Filipino".

Philippines, love it or leave it? Buddy, if you're "it...."

I HATE TO SEE PEOPLE PAYING FOR OTHER PEOPLE'S IGNORANCE AND BIGOTRY. I HATE BEING AFRAID BECAUSE SOMEONE DIDN'T READ THE NEWSPAPER AND SAW THE PRESIDENT TOUR IN SOME OTHER COUNTRIES OR HER HUSBAND IN SOME WHITE JACKET ON THE HEADLINES.

i feel like I'm on a sinking ship of fools.

Dammit. I hate dumb people and i hate mean people and i hate racist people and i hate god freaks.

i hate that woman now. I hate her face, always grinning unctuous face.

Get ready for more crisis.