Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 14) — Amid rice price shocks, an official of the Department of Agriculture (DA) said that the best solution to achieving lower costs for the commodity would be a review of the 2019 Rice Tariffication Law (RTL).
Rice is currently being sold between ₱50 to ₱62 per kilogram in Metro Manila markets, and is expected to go up to between ₱60 to ₱65 next week. Agricultural groups blamed the high prices on a rice cartel among traders, importers, and millers.
“Review I think is the best solution. Revisit again the Rice Tariffication Law. Titingnan kung ano pa ang kailangang amendahan at kung ano pa’ng dapat i-strengthen na provisions dun,” DA Assistant Secretary Chief of Staff Rex Estoperez said Monday.
[Translation: Review what needs to be amended and which provisions need to be strengthened.]
The RTL lifted the quantitative limits on rice trading, and placed a minimum of 35% tariff on imports.
It also directed the National Food Authority (NFA) to only purchase produce from local farmers, and to maintain a buffer stock of 15 to 30 days worth of national rice consumption.
Meanwhile, agricultural groups such as Bantay Bigas and AMIHAN urged the DA to pursue price control on the commodity instead of the imposition of suggested retail price and mass importation.
Some 300,000 metric tons of imported rice are expected to enter the country this month and next.
However, Estoperez said: “Ginagamit lang naman yung suggested retail price ‘pag nakikita nating may paggalaw ng presyo na hindi maganda. Pero yung price control, for now wala naman tayong emergency sa ngayon.”
[Translation: The suggested retail price is only used if we observe erratic price movements. But for price control, for now, there is no emergency.]
CNN Philippines’ correspondent EJ Gomez contributed to this report.
