Agricultural group questions need for food security emergency
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Agricultural group questions need for food security emergency
People buy from a rice retailerl at the Pasig public Market in Pasig City on January 16, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News
People buy from a rice retailerl at the Pasig public Market in Pasig City on January 16, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN NewsMANILA -- An agricultural group on Friday questioned the Department of Agriculture's (DA) plan to declare a food security emergency to address persistently high rice prices.
MANILA -- An agricultural group on Friday questioned the Department of Agriculture's (DA) plan to declare a food security emergency to address persistently high rice prices.
By doing so, the DA said the National Food Authority (NFA) will be allowed to sell its buffer stocks to local government units in Metro Manila at a cheaper rate— which it believes could lower the retail price of rice, and empty NFA warehouses just in time for the palay harvest season.
By doing so, the DA said the National Food Authority (NFA) will be allowed to sell its buffer stocks to local government units in Metro Manila at a cheaper rate— which it believes could lower the retail price of rice, and empty NFA warehouses just in time for the palay harvest season.
But in an interview with ABS-CBN News, the Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) said this does not solve the root cause of why rice prices remain high: profiteering.
But in an interview with ABS-CBN News, the Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) said this does not solve the root cause of why rice prices remain high: profiteering.
"Nananatiling mataas ang presyo ng bigas because merong mga nagsasamantala na importers at tsaka wholesalers and retailers. The solution to that is to run after these profiteerers. It is not to declare an emergency," said FFF National Manager Raul Montemayor.
"Nananatiling mataas ang presyo ng bigas because merong mga nagsasamantala na importers at tsaka wholesalers and retailers. The solution to that is to run after these profiteerers. It is not to declare an emergency," said FFF National Manager Raul Montemayor.
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(Rice prices remain high because of importers, wholesalers and retailers who are taking advantage of the market.)
(Rice prices remain high because of importers, wholesalers and retailers who are taking advantage of the market.)
"Parang sinabi mo, sige, pabayaan nalang natin yung mga nagsasamantala. Gawa na lang tayong ibang paraan, magbenta tayo ng NFA rice," he added.
"Parang sinabi mo, sige, pabayaan nalang natin yung mga nagsasamantala. Gawa na lang tayong ibang paraan, magbenta tayo ng NFA rice," he added.
(It's like saying, okay, we will let the profiteers be. Let's just do something else to bring down prices. Let's sell NFA rice.)
(It's like saying, okay, we will let the profiteers be. Let's just do something else to bring down prices. Let's sell NFA rice.)
DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel also earlier admitted that there could be some profiteering at play.
DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel also earlier admitted that there could be some profiteering at play.
For Montemayor, the government should put the newly-enacted Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act to the test and file cases against profiteers.
For Montemayor, the government should put the newly-enacted Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act to the test and file cases against profiteers.
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DA Assistant Secretary Arnel De Mesa said this is one of the options they are weighing with other arms of the government.
DA Assistant Secretary Arnel De Mesa said this is one of the options they are weighing with other arms of the government.
"Mahirap kasi kung kakasuhan mo sila tapos hilaw diba? The Secretary might ask DOF (Department of Finance), BIR (Bureau of Internal Revenue), pakitignan mo nga libro nito bakit hindi sila sumusunod?" he said.
"Mahirap kasi kung kakasuhan mo sila tapos hilaw diba? The Secretary might ask DOF (Department of Finance), BIR (Bureau of Internal Revenue), pakitignan mo nga libro nito bakit hindi sila sumusunod?" he said.
"Merong mga bagong lalabas na complaints o kaso… Abangan lang natin," added De Mesa.
"Merong mga bagong lalabas na complaints o kaso… Abangan lang natin," added De Mesa.
RISK OF POLITICIZATION?
Montemayor also said that the selling of NFA rice to local government units is prone to corruption or politicization.
Montemayor also said that the selling of NFA rice to local government units is prone to corruption or politicization.
"Ang daming nanamang milagro pwedeng mangyari dyan. Baka mapuslit nanaman yung bigas o kaya gamitin for vote-buying during the election kasi papa-exempt daw nila sa election ban e," he warned.
"Ang daming nanamang milagro pwedeng mangyari dyan. Baka mapuslit nanaman yung bigas o kaya gamitin for vote-buying during the election kasi papa-exempt daw nila sa election ban e," he warned.
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But De Mesa said the Metro Manila Council assured the DA that the initiative will not be used for the elections.
But De Mesa said the Metro Manila Council assured the DA that the initiative will not be used for the elections.
"We were assured naman na hindi naman nila gagamitin sa pamumulitika. Our first and foremost priority as of the moment is really to ensure that these stocks will be moved out doon sa ating warehouses and one of the primary na pwede nating bentahan are the LGUs," he said.
"We were assured naman na hindi naman nila gagamitin sa pamumulitika. Our first and foremost priority as of the moment is really to ensure that these stocks will be moved out doon sa ating warehouses and one of the primary na pwede nating bentahan are the LGUs," he said.
De Mesa also said the food security emergency could be declared as early as the end of January.
De Mesa also said the food security emergency could be declared as early as the end of January.
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