Typhoon Kiko and agricultural Yolanda

Intentional or accidental, the appointment of former Senator Kiko Pangilinan as Presidential Adviser on Agricultural Modernization has caused such a major disturbance in the peace and tranquility at the Department of Agriculture that he can be called Typhoon Kiko.

I consider the former Senator a friend and the reason for writing this piece is not to be critical, but to merely bring out in the open issues surrounding his appointment, and as well as the concerns of people in the service and affected sectors. Perhaps in doing so I will help Kiko be forewarned and therefore forearmed. As chairman of the Senate committee on agriculture, Kiko has had a long-term interest and concern for Philippine agriculture. It is unfortunate that many see his posting as nothing more than positioning him to be in the national limelight prior to the 2016 election. Kiko’s challenge now is to prove that his appointment is more than political positioning.

From day one, Kiko’s appointment has been suspect and questioned for several reasons. First, if he is a presidential “adviser,” what qualifies him to advise? His career path is not agricultural but legal and legislative. At the most he is a hobby farmer or a gentleman farmer. If he is an adviser, why give him Cabinet rank in a department where the official Cabinet member and Secretary of Agriculture is still in office and has not resigned.

What threw fuel into the fire was the announcement from Malacañang that Kiko would head the National Food Authority, the Philippine Coconut Authority, National Irrigation Administration and the Fertilizer and Pesticides Authority. This essentially states that the Department of Agriculture has been split asunder with Kiko getting the “choice cuts.” So now we have a two-headed department with one having the President’s “full trust and confidence” while the other getting hold of the major business side of it.

This situation has led to the opinion that the President does not have the heart or is incapable of firing or asking his appointees to resign, so instead they get Kiko to make Secretary Alcala uncomfortable enough to resign, which is what some friends and supporters have allegedly been suggesting to Sec. Procy.  Speaking of termination/resignations, the bets were on the that the NFA administrator will be the first to be blown out by Typhoon Kiko, but when reports reached the PCA that a certain Tañada is already shining his shoes to come in as the new administrator for the Philippine Coconut Authority, Administrator Forbes reportedly opted to do a voluntary resignation rather than be taken out of a job he did not ask for.

It’s tough enough when people say your appointment is politically motivated, but when questions are raised as to why you get “choice cuts,” Kiko can expect to be constantly under a magnifying glass. In his defense, I find it unlikely that Kiko and his backers have plans on the war chests of the four choice cuts. In all likelihood, Kiko will push for more investments, inputs and spending on “agricultural modernization” via the funds of the choice cuts, which when it happens will certainly make Kiko a very popular farmer advocate in a largely agricultural country. You can’t buy that, but Kiko can get it through the program.

I would suggest to the Second Secretary at the Department of Agriculture to address the concerns of people within the choice cuts. Apparently people were so surprised and disturbed that many of them have stopped working and are busy worrying and mentally preparing for the “hagupit” or lash of Typhoon Kiko. As insiders told me, they are at a standstill, not knowing if they should carry on with projects, contracts, or if they will be reassigned, removed etc. Like real-life storms and calamities, Typhoon Kiko will surely make an impact and I’m hoping that it will be more of cleansing and washing away the garbage and debris, instead of a destructive force that will setback the Department and the agencies of choice.

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I received what I believe was an invitation to be a “guest observer” of the Senate committee on agriculture concerning the coconut scale insect infestation that I’ve written about several times. Thinking back to everything I’ve learned about the pest, the infestation and the confusion surrounding the problem, I suddenly realized that the CSI problem is an agricultural replica of Typhoon Yolanda.

It was out of the ordinary, behaved and propagated in compounding speed that left a disaster in 4 provinces and still growing. Like Yolanda, no present technology and knowhow would be sufficient to meet the attack. Just like in Yolanda, everyone went into panic mode, had their own solutions, but no one in the national government was willing or in agreement to declare an “emergency situation.” Just like in Yolanda, in spite of the warning many people chose not to believe or do something about the CSI. Up to now, just like in Yolanda, it is those who are directly affected that are left to find an answer, a remedy or a solution while the national agencies are bound or restricted by laws, rules and procedures that were crafted for “normal circumstance” and not serious threats and national emergencies.

In aid of legislation, Senator Cynthia Villar should find out and put to law what constitutes an emergency situation, and empower the department or agencies to declare one when needed free from duress from other departments. Senator Villar should also investigate how the FPA requirements on pesticide accreditation becomes unrealistic, if not obstructive, during such dire times. The good Senator should also discover how so many agencies of the Department of Agriculture are falling short of their mark and mandate because of poor communication skills, product promotions and marketing. Finally, there exists among agencies of the DA a sense of paranoia and fear of being accused or charged by the COA or Ombudsman if they actually give out air or products in the interest of agricultural promotion. When you combine this with the pressure from the department of Budget for agencies to be self sufficient or self sustaining, what happens is the agencies go on cost cutting and cut back on promotions and activities. There are a lot of problems and CSI is just a consequence.