'Food security emergency' still needed despite slide in rice prices: Agri dept
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'Food security emergency' still needed despite slide in rice prices: Agri dept
MANILA -- The Department of Agriculture insisted that a declaration of a Food Security Emergency is still needed despite the downtrend in rice prices.
MANILA -- The Department of Agriculture insisted that a declaration of a Food Security Emergency is still needed despite the downtrend in rice prices.
Rice prices have been falling in the world market, which has also pushed down local prices. Despite this, the DA said an emergency declaration is still needed to manage buffer stock from warehouses of the National Food Authority (NFA).
Rice prices have been falling in the world market, which has also pushed down local prices. Despite this, the DA said an emergency declaration is still needed to manage buffer stock from warehouses of the National Food Authority (NFA).
"Sa tingin namin, kailangan pa rin kasi kailangan ma-release pa rin yung stocks ng NFA. Though downward trend siya, pero kagaya ng pag-ikot namin, meron pa rin talaga, nakikita rin kami na matataas pa rin yung presyo," Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa, agriculture spokesperson, told reporters on Wednesday.
"Sa tingin namin, kailangan pa rin kasi kailangan ma-release pa rin yung stocks ng NFA. Though downward trend siya, pero kagaya ng pag-ikot namin, meron pa rin talaga, nakikita rin kami na matataas pa rin yung presyo," Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa, agriculture spokesperson, told reporters on Wednesday.
(We think it's still needed to release the stocks from NFA. Though there is a downward trend, there are still those selling at much higher prices.)
(We think it's still needed to release the stocks from NFA. Though there is a downward trend, there are still those selling at much higher prices.)
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Once the food security emergency is declared, stocks from the NFA will be sold to local government units in Metro Manila for P36 per kilo, which can be sold in wet markets at P38 a kilo.
Once the food security emergency is declared, stocks from the NFA will be sold to local government units in Metro Manila for P36 per kilo, which can be sold in wet markets at P38 a kilo.
This is expected to pull the prices of commercial rice down. But aside from it, this will decongest the warehouses of NFA, which are currently full. If the warehouses of NFA are full, they will be unable to buy rice from farmers in the upcoming harvest season.
This is expected to pull the prices of commercial rice down. But aside from it, this will decongest the warehouses of NFA, which are currently full. If the warehouses of NFA are full, they will be unable to buy rice from farmers in the upcoming harvest season.
De Mesa clarified that they have yet to receive an official copy of the NPCC resolution recommending a food security emergency because it's still being circulated among NPCC member agencies for comments.
De Mesa clarified that they have yet to receive an official copy of the NPCC resolution recommending a food security emergency because it's still being circulated among NPCC member agencies for comments.
"Since wala pa sa amin yung kopya, then we cannot do anything for the meantime," he added.
"Since wala pa sa amin yung kopya, then we cannot do anything for the meantime," he added.
(Since we don't have the copy yet, we cannot do anything for the meantime.)
(Since we don't have the copy yet, we cannot do anything for the meantime.)
The agency remains optimistic that the copy will receive in order to release the rice in wet markets by February 1.
The agency remains optimistic that the copy will receive in order to release the rice in wet markets by February 1.
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