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Vice
Gov. Julius Caesar Herrera says he believes that his commitment
to agricultural development is being appreciated by Boholanos.
Herrera
gave his observation after the recent Holy Name University
(HNU) Bohol Polls showed a significant increase in his performance
rating among the beneficiaries surveyed.
The
results of the survey, which was conducted from April 13-20,
was held at the HNU main audio-visual hall last April 28.
Survey
results revealed that 61% of those polled were satisfied with
Herrera's performance. Herrera's performance rating was a
significant increase compared to his 53% satisfactory rating
in 2007.
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The
eight-percent increase was the highest among all government
officials in this year's survey.
Herrera
believes that his performance rating reveals that his
commitment to agricultural development has been received
favorably by the Boholanos.
"It
means that they agree with me that agriculture should
be given priority in Bohol 's development agenda,"
the vice-governor remarked.
He
clarified that he has nothing against other development
thrusts particularly tourism which has done much to
boost Bohol 's economy.
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"Agriculture
and tourism can go side by side so I don't see any conflict,"
Herrera added.
The
vice-governor however stressed that agriculture should not
be relegated because of several factors.
"First
of all, we should consider that majority of our people are
dependent on agriculture as a way of life," he noted.
Secondly,
Herrera said that the rice crisis revealed that although Bohol
is among the rice-producing provinces in the country, it is
not exactly self-sufficient as far as rice is concerned until
this time.
The
vice-governor has also pointed out that although figures reveal
that while Bohol is considered the rice granary of Central
Visayas , it has not increased its production for the last
12 years.
Figures
provided by agriculture stakeholders reveal that since 1996,
production has not increased beyond 83 percent.
Herrera,
who chairs the Sangguniang Panlalawigan agriculture committee,
said he is inspired by the approval given to Boholanos of
his advocacy to agriculture development saying he will be
even more zealous to promote it.
"We
cannot talk of development in other areas of our existence
until we have food security," he added.
The
vice-governor, who had warned of the rice crisis more than
a year ago, said that after he has been proven right by the
current rice crisis, he wants concrete steps to be taken to
prevent it from being repeated in the future.
Herrera
has proposed the use of idle and arable lands for agriculture
especially for rice production.
The
vice-governor added that he is opposed to the conversion of
rice lands to other uses.
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