REPRESENTATIVE Stella Quimbo said the latest PSA Report shows that for August 2023, rice inflation doubled to 8.7%, from 4.2% rice inflation last July.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) Price Monitoring reported rice prices at 57 pesos per kilo in NCR Markets in August, 16% higher than prices in July. With increasing reports of rice hoarders and the threat of El Niño, there are concerns about the sufficiency of domestic rice supply.
“Puno ng pangamba ang bawat Pilipino na sa tuloy-tuloy na pagtaas ng presyo ng bigas, baka mauulit ang nangyari sa kaso ng sibuyas noong 2022. To allay the fears of the Filipino people, there is an urgent need for swift action,” said the solon.
The Philippine Rice Emergency Response Act, filed as House Bill 9030, is not just a reaction to these challenges. Rather, it is a strategic set of solutions— a comprehensive tool kit —that seeks to shield consumers and our local farmers, as well as traders, during tight conditions in the rice market.
She said the bill achieves this through a three-pronged strategy. The first set of strategies is to directly address prices by ensuring sufficient supply.
“This bill seeks to allow imports by the NFA to increase its buffer stocks. Further, it uses rice tariff reduction as a way to further manage prices, especially when world prices of rice are high. The second set of strategies includes subsidizing key stakeholders in the production and consumption of rice, including local farmers and impoverished households. In case a price ceiling is in place, retailers can also be subsidized if they face operating losses. And finally, to go after hoarders, the third set includes increasing the penalties for hoarding and price manipulation, with higher fines and longer imprisonment.”
“Sa pamamagitan ng mga hakbang na ito, malinaw ang ating layunin: matiyak na sapat at abot-kaya ang bigas para sa bawat Pilipino nang hindi napipinsala ang kabuhayan ng ating mga magsasaka
With the President’s directive to control the price of rice, it remains essential to remove legal and funding constraints that government agencies will face in performing this mandate. The bill serves this purpose. It paves the way for a strategic and efficient use of resources, aiming to support Filipino farmers and other vital stakeholders in the rice supply chain.
“Let us move forward with the unwavering aim to serve and uplift every Filipino family. Sama-sama po nating tiyakin na ang bawat butil ng bigas na ating kakainin ay siyang pupuno sa mas malusog at mas maunlad na Pilipinas,” said Quimbo.
