Lesser of two weevils

Cong Corrales .

I HAVE always believed that the phrase “clowns in politics” was just a metaphor. But that changed a week ago. There are actual clowns in politics. Mind you, these clowns aren’t funny. Well, there never has been a funny clown. At least, that’s how popular culture has depicted these creatures of the circus. They try to be funny but almost always fall flat on the ground. In movies, they are either depressed, hysterical, degenerate, or murderous.

We witnessed the President’s misogynist take, yet again, on why Davao City is currently the rape capital of the country. I’ll let the advocates at #BabaeAko take that one. In their latest statement on the incident, they have made it clear that rape is neither about physical appearance nor love. It is about power. It is about imposing your will on another human being.

As the title above suggests, I’ll be talking about the lesser evil last week.

In his attempt to show Filipinos that the weevil-infested imported rice is safe for eating, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol actually ate bukbok rice. To complete the meal, he also ate the imported galunggong (round scad) that were allegedly laced with formaldehyde, more popularly known as formalin.

Piñol has been pushing for the importation of rice and galunggong in his attempt to smother the rising inflation currently gripping the nation. A solution that is as ridiculous as it sounds. The Philippines has been an agricultural country and plus, it’s an archipelago. This means that the country should not be facing rice and fish crises considering we have one of the most fertile soils in Southeast Asia and has one of the longest coastlines in the world.

Many advocacy groups have called for his resignation for his bumbling mistakes. Piñol retorted with the now template reply of the clowns of this administration: “These canards are gross attempts to discredit the Duterte administration.” Canard means an unfounded rumor or a concocted story.

Well, newsflash, Mr. Secretary, the people do not need to “discredit” this administration since it has been doing a banged up job by itself. The government has more than enough expertise and resources to address the failing economy. Importing rice and galunggong only cements the export-oriented and import-dependent character of this government’s overall economic policy.

However, the government can always look into its capabilities rather than look far to solve these problems.

The government owns and runs the worldenown Philippine Rice Research Institute, for crying out loud. Just this August, the institute has developed healthier forms of rice and rice-based products to help address malnutrition in the country. Even here in Cagayan de Oro, foreigners have alleviated poverty in their respective countries by studying at the Southeast Asia Rural Social Leadership Institute based at Xavier University’s Manresa Campus in Upper Carmen. If other nations have improved their agriculture-based economies by schooling here, why can’t we apply these teachings to our own leaders?

As for fisheries, we have the most professional personnel most of whom are experts in aquatic resources management. Did you know that the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources has more boats than the Coast Guard? Why can’t these boats be used for, I don’t know, the people?

Plus, Mr. Secretary, for all this administration’s bravado, it has been undermining itself.

Lately, the Duterte administration has slashed the health budget by P31 billion, agriculture by P3.6 billion, labor and employment by P5.3 billion. Wait, aren’t these departments responsible in addressing most of the President’s campaign promises? He promised affordable health care, poverty alleviation, and ending labor-only contracting. How can these departments do that when their budgets have been compromised?

In contrast, this administration has increased its budget for representation and entertainment spending from P2.9 billion to P20.03 billion. Therein lies the crux of what this administration is all about. Beyond its smokes and mirrors, it only just wants to entertain.

But we aren’t entertained. We are reeling because of the decisions of these clowns in government.