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Farmers
and stakeholders in the agriculture sector should always be
focused on their responsibilities to feed the country.
Vice
Gov. Julius Caesar Herrera said he does not see any reason
why the crisis spawned by the revelations of whistle-blower
Rodolfo Noel Lozada will have any negative effect on the agriculture
sector.
"Farmers
should remember at all times that they have a responsibility
to feed the nation," he declared.
The
vice-governor chairs the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) committee
on agriculture.
Herrera
said he is saddened whenever he learns about farmers abandoning
their farms for whatever reason.
He
clarified that he is not against farmers expressing their
outrage over irregularities in the government.
"That
is their right to protest and denounce anomalies just like
any other citizen," the vice governor noted.
Herrera
said what is lamentable is when they abandon their farms and
focus on demonstrations and rallies.
"Who
will raise the food that will feed our people if they spend
all their time in the demonstrations?" he asked.
The
vice-governor said that like other sectors in society, farmers
should realize that they have a duty to perform.
He
noted that like farmers, workers, professionals and any other
sector can join demonstrations and rallies to show their indignation
over anomalies.
But
he said they do it only to deliver their message but not to
paralyze the community.
"What
would happen if a sick person cannot be brought to the hospital
because there are no public utilities?" he pointed out.
Herrera
said farmers know the seasons and are aware that when they
miss out on the planting season, the loss is irreparable.
He
said that if the agriculture sector fails to do its part,
it is not the powerful people in government who will be affected.
"It
is the poor people like them who will be hardest hit if prices
of foodstuff increase due to the limited supply," he
noted.
The
vice governor said he knows the crisis will not be forever
so there is no reason for farmers to put risk their livelihood.
"It
would be sad if the crisis is resolved and they have no food
to eat because they spent most of their time joining protest
activities when they should be planting," he added.
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