Offer P20/kg rice in markets - groups

Metro Manila, Philippines - Advocacy groups called for the availability of rice sold for P20 per kilogram in wet markets if the administration is serious in fulfilling the president’s campaign promise.

Amihan and the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas made the call after the launch of subsidized P20 rice in Kadiwa stores in Cebu on Thursday, May 1.

Ronnie Manalo, secretary general of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, said the launch was “trying hard” to prove the campaign promise as the subsidized rice was only available to pilot areas and through government-run outlets.

“Dapat sustained sa pamamagitan ng dapat dalhin niya sa palengke at dapat pang matagalan na yan. Hindi ‘yung pang 10 days, pang 15 days at sa panahon lang ng eleksyon makikita,” Cathy Estavillo, secretary-general of Amihan, told NewsWatch Plus on Friday.

[Translation: The selling should be sustained by bringing the subsidized rice to wet markets, ensuring its long run, not only for 10 days, 15 days, and during the elections.]

To make this happen, the groups reiterated calls for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to repeal Republic Act 11203 or the rice tariffication law.

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“Hindi man ma-outright na ibasura ‘yung batas, maglabas siya ng executive order na pansamantalang ihinto niya ‘yung implementation nu’ng section dun sa batas na nagtali sa kamay ng NFA na hindi maglabas ng subsidized price sa palengke,” Estavillo said.

“Kung totoong seryoso siya dun sa campaign promise niya na magkakaroon ng P20 per kilo, at the same time, para mapalawak ‘yung maging beneficiary ng P20,” Estavillo said.

[Translation: If not an outright appeal of the law, he must issue an executive order to temporarily suspend the implementation of the section of the law that tied the hands of the NFA not selling in markets at a subsidized price. That is if he is serious in his campaign promise of P20 per kilogram of rice, at the same time, have more beneficiaries of the program.]

The law has restricted the National Food Authority (NFA) from directly selling rice buffer stocks to the public. The amended law authorized the agriculture secretary to declare a food security emergency, allowing the release of NFA stocks only to local government units, government agencies, and Kadiwa stores.

Agricultural groups previously said the program must not further bring down the farmgate price of palay.

“Ang panawagan dapat natin: Ang subsidy dapat diretso sa magsasaka para sila’y mapaunlad ‘yong kanilang produksyon, production subsidy,” Ronnie Manalo, secretary general of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, also told NewsWatch Plus. He added that the government must have a genuine land reform program.

[Translation: Our call should be: The subsidy should go directly to the farmers as production subsidies to boost their production.]

The Department of Agriculture (DA) assured the sustainability of the subsidized rice program, which plans to move out around 370,000 metric tons of NFA stocks.

“We’re helping our farmers, we’re helping ‘yung ating consumers,” Agriculture Assistant Secretary Genevieve Guevarra said in an interview. “And as long as meron po tayong nagpo-produce na farmer at meron po tayong subsidy na mabibigay, tuloy-tuloy lang po itong programa.”

[Translation: We’re helping our farmers and consumers. And as long as there are farmers who will produce and we have the subsidy, this program will continue.]

Amid the election spending ban, the DA deferred its sale in 19 Kadiwa outlets, including kiosks in wet markets, in Metro Manila, to May 13, only to vulnerable sectors with a 30-kilogram monthly limit.

Participating local government units can decide the beneficiaries for their implementation, and have a monthly limit of 40 kilograms.