We have letters from our faithful readers on various topics we have been discussing in this column.

From Rene Arquillo, La Union:

“...While we are happy that Justice Secretary Leila de Lima picked our Regional Prosecutor Nonnatus Caesar Rojas as the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) who has had a solid and creditable performance as a prosecutor for twenty years we cannot help but be saddened by the summary firing of the former NBI Chief, retired Police General Magtanggol Gatdula. It may be true that P. Noy has the sole prerogative to chose people of his ‘trust and confidence’ to head sensitive offices such as the NBI it would have been best if Gatdula was given his ‘day in court’. As it is, he was not even given time to defend himself since even De Lima said he will still undergo ‘preliminary investigation’... ANO BA YAN???”

From  Jun Lumanlan, Pampanga:

“ ...Is it true that DoTC Secretary Mar Roxas is really bent in making the Clark International Airport (Diosdado Macapagal International Airport) the country’s premier international gateway? If true, then he should immediately and simultaneously look into the following:  a) upgrading of the airport terminal including expansion of the basic facilities such as transport terminals for buses, cars and other vehicles; b) NORTHRAIL and/or the rail connection from Metro Manila which remains the country’s center of activities to Clark; c) expansion, maybe widening, of the NLEX including the stretch going to Urdaneta and eventually Rosario in La Union as well as the MacArthur (Maharlika) Highway; d) upgrading of the Gapan-Olongapo Road and possibly having a spur expressway going to Cabanatuan; e) desilting of the rivers in and around the Clark Zone and f) managing the traffic system within Clark itself...”

From Tessie Agapito, Tarlac:

“...It is sad that not a single word was heard from Malacanang, CHR or even our legislators about the 25th anniversary of the Mendiola Massacre that resulted in the death of thirteen farmer-demonstrators during President Cory’s time..That was actually just one of several incidents which has bathed Hacienda Luisita in blood. Remember, the farmers at Mendiola then were demanding the implementation of genuine land reform and were focused on Hacienda Luisita’s SDO plan. They were gunned down.  Soon, that was followed by killings of farmer organizers in and around Hacienda Luisita itself. Then, the Luisita siege which claimed another seven deaths.. Hacienda Luisita is really bathed in blood. We just hope that with the Supreme Court’s unanimous decision to finally re-distribute the Luisita lands to the farmer beneficiaries we will not witness series of killings and even massacres all over again..”

From Professor Obet Verzola, a good friend and committed advocate for people’s rights and welfare who is also the coordinator of SRI Pilipinas:

“SRI Pilipinas which is the lead convenor promoting a new rice- growing method called ‘System of Rice Intensification” (SRI) will be conducting seminars on the SRI nationwide on a regular basis. For the year, the first seminar was held at the Department of Agriculture last January 23 to be followed by similar activities in the regions on a monthly basis.

SRI is the method that five farmers in India used, after learning it over three years, to break the world record in rice yield of 390 cavans per hectare held by the world-famous scientist and hybrid rice inventor Dr. Yuan Longping who won the World Food Prize in 2004 for such an invention. Of the five, Sumant Kumar got the best yield, a record setting 448 cavans (22.4 tons) per hectare. The others like Kumar all come from the village of Darveshpura in Bihar, India where the SRI method was officiall introduced by the government in 2008 and where almost 90% of all rice farmers are now using the SRI method.

For SRI reading materials you may get in touch with our office through our hotline, 0939 117 8999 or through me at 0929 856 1930..”