By Brian Jules Campued
Responding to a question if “BBM” stands for “Bigas Biglang Mahal”, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. clarified on Sunday that the increase in rice prices is a serious issue not only experienced in the Philippines but in other Asian countries as well.
In a recent vlog uploaded on Youtube, Marcos answered questions and letters received by the Office of the President from the “Bahay Ugnayan” museum about various national issues including politics and rice prices.
“Hindi natin maiwasan na makita, talagang nagiging problema ang pagtaas ng presyo ng bigas dito sa Pilipinas. Pero, kung titignan po natin kahit na ‘yung mga nag e-export na mga bansa ay tumataas din ang presyo nila, halos katumbas lang ng pagtaas dito sa Pilipinas,” President Marcos answered.
He added that top rice producers Vietnam and Thailand are similarly affected by “external shocks” such as the movement of oil prices.
The President likewise assured the public that the government is “doing all it can” to ensure sufficient supply and stabilize prices.
“Ginagawa natin lahat upang ang produksyon natin ay maging sapat na hindi na tayo nag-i-import, mababawasan ang mga inputs, kung tawagin para sa ating mga farmer at sana naman ay ma-stabilize man lang natin ‘yung presyo ng bigas,” he continued.
Gov’t efforts vs terrorist groups
President Marcos also vowed to strengthen the government campaign against terrorist groups as he honored six fallen soldiers following clashes with the Islamic State-linked Dawlah Islamiyah in a remote village in Munai, Lanao del Norte on Feb. 18.
Six members of the Philippine Army’s 44th Infantry Battalion were killed while four were wounded in a firefight with the DI group in Barangay Ramain
“Hindi natin makakalimutan ang kanilang kadakilaan at kabayanihan. Ipagpapatuloy natin ang kanilang ipinaglaban, at uusigin natin ang mga kalaban ng kapayapaan,” the Chief Executive said.
“Ipinapangako natin sa kanilang mga mahal sa buhay, at sa sambayanang Pilipino, na ating ipadarama sa kanilang mga naulila ang pagmamahal at pagkilala ng pamahalaan sa kanilang nagawang sakripisyo.”
‘In the service of the people’
Meanwhile, Marcos also said in the same vlog that politics should always be in the service of the people.
“Politics should be in the service of the people. Politics should not be in the service of one party; should not be in the service of one person, certainly. Namumulitika tayo dahil mayroon tayong gustong gawin,” the President said.
He made the statement in response to a letter from a humanities student who is interested in Philippine politics and history.
He further said that an individual seeking whatever elective position should not be self-centered.
“Dapat naman, ang dahilan kung bakit sila tatakbo ay nais nilang tumulong, ako, ganiyan kaya ako tumakbo, kaya ako pumasok sa pulitika dahil nalulungkot ako sa mga nakikita kong pangyayari. Dahil masakit sa loob ko na makitang naghihirap ang mga Pilipino at naisip ko, siguro naman may kaya akong gawin para makatulong,” Marcos added.
The President also advised the youth to discern and take both sides of the story on issues particularly politics where false information is rampant on social media.
“Because we have experienced this before. Politics is essentially about the human condition, it is about an ideology that you hold dear, a principle that you will not compromise so that you can help the people, so you can be of service to the people. Not to yourself, not to your party, not to your family, but for the people,” he said. – avds
