Talabong bats for moratorium on land conversion to boost rice production, prevent food scarcity

by Dong delos Reyes September 3, 2022 Atty. Ferdinand 'Bong' Talabong (Photo from his FB) LUCENA CITY - Plagued by perennial grain p...

by Dong delos Reyes
September 3, 2022

Atty. Ferdinand 'Bong' Talabong (Photo from his FB)

LUCENA CITY - Plagued by perennial grain production shortfalls and slump in farm yields brought about by climate change, the Philippines has turned into the world's #1 rice importer- and its rice procurement from Asian neighbor countries has become the mark for upward spirals of rice pricing in the region.

Unperturbed by this sorry trend of the nation's dwindling rice supply and tottering food security, land developers are still in a frenzy of land conversion to suit more profitable ends- much to the dismay of consumers and farmers.



"Ang paboritong i-convert ay ang rice fields sapagkat ito ay patag na, lalo na kung gagawing housing subdivisions," rues Quezon second district board member Atty. Ferdinand 'Bong' Talabong in a statement to Sentinel Times on Air aired nationwide by Cool 101.5 and Facebook.

Talabong wants a stop to the unscrupulous practice in the guise of land development and progress.



Talabong, whose surname is a variant term for a long bladed weapon used in kali/arnis/escrima and for working the land, has filed a measure with the Quzon sangguniang panlalawigan for a moratorium on the conversion/reclassification of agricultural lands for commercial and housing subdivision purposes.

He told Sentinel Times on Air host Belly Otordoz that the power to reclassify lands is within the jurisdiction of the provincial board.



Talabong added that such moratorium should hold until stability of grains and crop production is achieved.

He pointed out that what was once vast tracts of farmlands are dwindling because of unchecked land conversion and reclassification.

"Sa (walang humpay) na land conversion at reclassification, nababawasan ang mga lupaing pansakahan, nakalaan sa palayan at taniman ng gulay," he lamented.

Engaging character

The Talabong stand against encroachment of real estate developers on farmers and their farmlands somehow reflect the character of the provincial lawyer-turned-lawmaker.

In jest, he recounted how he had to part ways with his wife after sharing an office for years. He was taking too many a pro bono cases in defense of what he deems as injustice against the poor and powerless. Thus, he quipped, the missus left him- and opened a new law office, but they're still "magkatabi sa gabi."

Talabong cited that of the 40 municipalities and two cities in Quezon province, only San Antonio town remains above the water in food production amd security- the rest are under threat from land reclassification and inevitable conversion for residential, industrial, and commercial uses.

Not a grim-and-determined persona that departs from his staunch advocacy, he confesses- with tongue firmly in cheek- that had he not been a lawyer, he could likely be an ambulant peddler, hollering "Tahooo!" by day, and "Baluuut!" by night.

Ande promptly added, "I am that masipag."

He warned, though, that if land reclassification and consequent conversion go unabated, "our country would be facing food scarcity."

Struggling on with his against-the-odds measure, Talabong has requested the Quezon provincial agricultural office to draw up a land inventory and account for the crop yields and the total size of areas devoted to rice production which will be covered by the moratorium.