DA chief declares food security emergency on rice

Department of Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. on Monday declared a food security emergency on rice based on the recommendations from the National Price Coordinating Council. 

“This emergency declaration allows us to release rice buffer stocks held by the National Food Authority (NFA) to stabilize prices and ensure that rice, a staple food for millions of Filipinos, remains accessible to consumers," Tiu Laurel said in a statement.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier said that such a declaration is meant "to force the price down" after the government has done everything to do so. 

Marcos said the prices of rice in the market remained high even after the decrease in the cost of production.

The Rice Tariffication Law authorizes the Agriculture chief to declare a food security emergency in response to high prices and to direct the National Food Authority (NFA) to release buffer stocks to government agencies, local government units, and the KADIWA ng Pangulo program to stabilize the rice price. 

The circular shall take effect immediately and shall remain in force and effect until lifted or withdrawn by the Agriculture Secretary. 

The NFA currently has a buffer stock of approximately 300,000 metric tons of rice, half of which could be released over the next six months to ensure sufficient supply for emergencies and disaster response. 

The NFA may increase this volume if necessary, as it prepares to begin palay procurement in the coming weeks, the DA added. 

NFA Administrator Larry Lacson earlier confirmed that some local government units have expressed interest in purchasing NFA rice for distribution once the emergency is declared.

The DA recently said it would gradually slash the maximum suggested retail price (MSRP) for imported rice in the coming weeks as it targets an MSRP of P49 per kilo by March. 

This is also in line with the decision of the President to cut the tariff to 15% from 35% since July last year. –with a report from Vince Ferreras/NB, GMA Integrated News