AFFORDABLE stable rice prices are possible if the government is willing to invest to ensure the food security of our country.
This according to AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee who filed a bill to establish a program that will provide subsidies intended to lower rice prices while encouraging farmers to produce more rice.
The Bicolano lawmaker stressed that “food security is a national security issue. Kung ganito ang perspektibo natin, we should treat our farmers as food security soldiers—an army being mobilized to feed millions of Filipino families, an army waging a war on hunger.”
According to Lee, lowering rice prices to 20 pesos a kilo is possible in the long term “if we are willing to invest in this army and are willing to implement a plan to increase local rice supplies and shield our kababayan from rising international rice prices.”
“Kapag po national security issue, automatic, it is an expense item. Ibig pong sabihin, dapat gastusan ito ng gobyerno; dapat paglaanan ng pondo taon-taon. Kung wala po tayong plano at hindi natin sisimulan ito, talagang walang mangyayari. We need to start acting now,” Lee added.
Lee filed House Bill No. 9020 or the “Cheaper Rice Act” to establish a Rice Incentivization, Self-Sufficiency, and Enterprise (RISE) Program which aims to ensure that rice prices remain affordable for the ordinary Filipino consumer via a subsidy that will be provided for the country’s estimated 2.6 million rice farmers.
“Sa panukalang ito, maglalaan po ang pamahalaan ng pondo para pambili ng palay mula sa ating mga magsasaka na mas mataas ang presyo at siguradong may kita sila. Ang bibilhin natin sa kanila, ibebenta naman nang mas mura sa mga consumers,” the solon said.
“Kapag nasiguro ang kita ng mga magsasaka, wala pong makakaisip na ibenta ang kanilang lupa. At dahil may kita na, mas lalong magsusumikap ang ating mga magsasaka na itaas ang produksyon at ma-e-engganyo din natin ang kabataan na pasukin ang pagsasaka. Sa pagtaas ng kanilang produksyon, mapapababa ang presyo sa merkado. Makakatulong ito sa pagkamit sa food security kung saan hindi na natin kailangang umasa sa importasyon. Darating po ang araw, tayo na ang mag-e-export ng bigas,” explained the legislator.
The RISE Program Act tasks the Department of Agriculture (DA), in coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and other relevant government agencies, to develop a pricing structure that will cover the minimum guaranteed prices for palay.
The said program shall also establish a regular monitoring system to mitigate the impact of fluctuating prices on palay and rice, and design a system for payouts to farmers based on various scenarios of price decline.
“Sa RISE program, panalo ang magsasaka, panalo ang consumers, panalo ang bansa, kaya Winner Tayo Lahat,” Lee said.
