BY GERARD NAVAL

ARCHBISHOP Paciano Aniceto of Pampanga yesterday said the problem of rice supply is caused by the "mismanagement" by government officials in providing basic needs of the people and the selfish interest of rice traders, and not by the huge population.

"Mismanagement lang yan… Dapat bigyan natin sila (farmers) ng support service, bigyan ng fertilizer, irrigation, transportation," said Aniceto, chairman of the Episcopal Commission on Family and Life of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines.

Agriculture Secretary Yap has said rice production has been increasing but has not kept pace with population growth.

The Philippine population of 88.7 million last year is projected to rise to 90.4 million this year.

The national daily consumption is 33,000 tons or about 12 million tons a year.

Last week, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman blamed population explosion and dwindling farmland areas for the rice crisis.

The Catholic Church is against any artificial method of birth control.

Aniceto said instead of blaming the population growth, officials should use human resources to advance efforts to combat hunger.

"Ang tao kasi ang main allies for progress development and real authentic development of people. Sabi ni Pope Paul VI, yung most important (factor) of production ay ang mga tao. Sila mismo ay creative, lalo na ang mga Pilipino, masipag, maraming talent," he said.

Aniceto called on rice traders to stop hoarding and other illegal practices.

"Let’s practice patriotism by not hoarding our products. Ang Panginoon, ginawa niya ang palay para sa lahat di sa few," he said.

PNP chief Avelino Razon Jr. said he has ordered sustained operations against rice hoarders and price manipulators.

Malacañang assured the public that the P43.7 billion allocated for food security and assist the agricultural sector would be used for its intended purposes.

The allocation for "FIELDS (fertilizer, irrigation and insurance, extension and education, loans, dryers and post-harvest facilities, seeds)" was announced Friday by President Arroyo during the National Food Summit.

Several sectors, including Sen. Francis Escudero, have called for transparency in the use of the funds.

Cerge Remonde, chief of the presidential management staff, told critics: "We assure them that the funds will be used appropriately… Instead of being nattering nabobs of negativism, we appeal to the political opposition to be more constructive and support the President in helping the people."

Remonde noted Arroyo is even planning to create the position of deputy ombudsman for agriculture to help deter irregularities.

The militant Kilusang Mag-bubukid ng Pilipinas echoed calls for itemized spending, saying the P43.7 billion might go the way of the P728 million fertilizer scam, the P5 billion swine fund, and other projects characterized by anomalies.

Rafael Mariano, KMP chairman, also asked local government units to identify the recipients of the P3.1 billion irrigation funds that he said were released in two tranches — P500 million in January and P2.6 billion in March last year.

"We already have a list of the recipients. We just hope that they will come clean for the sake of truth and transparency," Mariano said. – With Raymond Africa, Jocelyn Montemayor and Randy Nobleza