DA chief: No reco on food security emergency yet

Department of Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel on Friday said he has yet to receive the official recommendation on declaring the food security emergency, saying that it may be forwarded to him next week.

''Well, the NPCC (National Price Coordinating Council) has finalized the draft noong Tuesday pa lang, and the document is now umiikot for signature. So, na-delay nga. I was expecting it this week. So, malamang next week, makukuha ko na iyong signed document on the official recommendation for the declaration of rice emergency,'' Tiu Laurel said at a press briefing.

The DA chief earlier said this measure was ''justified'' since the warehouses of the National Food Authority are already full at capacity.

READ: What is a food security emergency?

Under Republic Act 12078, or the law amending the Agricultural Tariffication Act, the Agriculture chief has the power to declare a food security emergency on rice due to a supply shortage or extraordinary increase in prices.

The National Price Coordinating Council had approved a resolution urging the DA to declare a "food security emergency for rice" as the prices of the commodity remained high.

Once approved, the government will sell 300,000 tons of rice by February.   

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr said that the proposed declaration of a food security emergency is meant "to force the price down" after the government has done everything to do so.

"Hindi nasusundan and supply and demand curve. Dahil hanggang ngayon kahit ibaba mo lahat ng inputs, ang pagbenta pa rin mataas pa rin,” Marcos said.

(The supply and demand curve is not being followed. Even if you lower the cost of inputs, the selling prices remain high.)

--VAL, GMA Integrated News