EDITORIAL
Is Bohol still for Boholanos?
The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that
the food sufficiency levels in Central Visayas for rice, corn,
and other staples are less than sufficient, meaning more
production is needed to meet local demand.
The National Economic Development Authority
(NEDA) considers the Province of Bohol the rice granary of
Central Visayas. In the Central Visayas Regional
Development Plan 2023-2028, NEDA reported that Bohol
has the highest food sufficiency level for rice at 84.1
percent and for corn at 87.3 percent. The Province of
Cebu has the lowest food sufficiency level for both rice
and corn at 2.2 percent and 11.8 percent, respectively.
Ironically, Bohol’s stature as the region’s rice granary
is not worthy of celebration. Boholanos are facing a rice
crisis as the prices of the staple food continue to rise in
the local market. Philrice.gov.ph reports that the average
price of rice in the province ranges from P44.97 for
regular-milled rice to P49.47 for well-milled rice for the
year 2023. Anecdotal consumer reports show even higher
prices, ranging from P56 to P58 per kilogram.
Despite being the highest producer of rice in the
region, PSA reported that Bohol has consistently ranked
among the top 2 provinces with high poverty incidence as
21.2% (2018), 26.6% (2021), and 23.1% (2023) of the
households living below the poverty threshold. Siquijor,
the smallest province in Central Visayas, is better off than
Bohol – the region’s rice granary and the Philippines’s
prime tourist destination – as only 10.0% (2018),
4.3%(2021), 4.6% (2023) of the households live below
the poverty line.
Boholanos should be the primary beneficiary of
whatever gains we reap from being a rice granary and a
prime tourist destination. We have the highest food
sufficiency in the region, yet, a substantial number of
households live below the poverty line and experience
hunger. In the greatest paradox of all time, Bohol is
internationally known to have one of the most beautiful
tourist attractions, but the locals can no longer appreciate
its beauty because it comes with a very price tag.
Our present situation requires us to reflect on these
burning questions: Whose mouths are we feeding, and
whose eyes are the beauty of our province for?