A lot of lessons unfolding out of the Zamboanga Crisis. Food sufficiency for ARMM island provinces is one. The 3-week siege tells us that the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi are significantly dependent on Zamboanga for foodstuff. This is not the first time. In fact this is the second time in less than two years. Who can forget the Sabah siege?
Sabah provides access to foodstuff at a cheaper price. Since we are just recuperating from the effects of the Sabah siege, free travel and importation are still not at its previous pace. So Zamboanga is our alternative.
Now we have the Zamboanga siege. Into it's 4th week, the effect is most felt in the hampered flow of goods and foodstuff to the island provinces. What is this siege telling the island communities is two-fold:
Firstly, whether we acknowledge it or not, we are now hook on consumerism, purchasing everything in greater amount than before. Something has been done on the level of education and attitude change. Attitude change in the sense that not all we eat or consume need to be purchased. Education that there are alternative and sustainable ways.
Secondly, communities can cut down their purchase by being responsible for some of the food they will consume through family/house and community gardening.
Until we change our attitude and lifestyle, the food shortage with even worse repercussion will not be far-fetched in the future not just because of possible repeat of the present security situation. There is even a great matter of urgency - climate change and natural disasters.
When do we prepare? Now is the best time to sit down and act.
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