Ricemill owners face shutdown for lack of buyers (Manila Bulletin reaction

Lack of buyers of milled rice gave the big ricemill owners no choice but to shut down their operations in Pangasinan. Rice dealers in Metro Manila and other non-rice producing areas have stopped buying from them for fear of being raided by government agents on suspicion of hoarding.Because of the low demand, the buying price of palay for the past few days has drastically dropped from P19 to P16.20. Ricemills in Nueva Ecija and Isabela province face the same dilemma. The rice millers said that the government would save at least P600 per bag if the NFA will buy from them. At present, they said the government is importing rice at US$ 1,090 per metric ton, which they said is around P2,229 per bag which is more expensive than the P1,600 per bag that the rice millers are selling. Abono Party-list President Ponciano Onia asked "Why is the government insisting on rice importation when every province has been declaring surplus production? The government should instead buy from the farmers and the millers to keep the local rice industry alive.I agree on what President Onia said. The way I see it, I feel that the government doesn't have much faith on the capabilities of the Filipinos, instead of supporting the Filipinos in their talents and wisdom, the government chose to rely more on importation. There were too many opportunities that were lost because of lack of support. Like for example, the dragon ball story created by a Filipino, not supported by fellow Filipinos, sold to Japan then Japan decided to sell it again to the Filipinos but with a higher price already. Every time we hear that this particular gadget, say a cellphone came from Japan or US, one would really expect that cellphone to be "high tech", "latest and "in" in the society. Upon giving chocolates coming from switzerland, US and the like, the Filipino receiving it would smile from ear to ear. One, however would sigh with disgust receiving a Philippine-made chocolate. The government is no different. Foreigners and foreign countries are given priority. The government trust what others made and not what we are making. No wonder we have this rice crisis. No wonder we still remained as a third world country being looked down and discriminated by other foreigners who we looked up to.