Rice prices in Baguio seen to go down soon

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines - Government agencies are crossing their fingers that the high prices of commercial rice would continue to go down during these lean months. Rolando Rufo, manager of the National Food Authority (NFA) Baguio-Benguet, said commercial rice prices are expected to drop further as supply of government-subsidized rice is increased. "We hope the prices of commercial rice will (continue) to go down as we continue to distribute cheap rice," Rufo said, adding that the usual P35 per kilo of commercial rice is now being sold at P33 to P32 a kilo in the market. Commercial rice vendors are compelled to bring down their prices during the lean months (usually from June to August) because they know that supply of the NFA rice will increase, Rufo said. Rufo said NFA has increased its weekly rice distribution to 3,500 bags from the usual 670 bags weekly distribution before the lean months. A kilo of NFA rice sold at the market costs P25 per kilo, while those sold at the Tindahan Natin Outlets in the barangays are bought at P18.25 per kilo. Department of Agriculture officer-in-charge (OIC) Regional Director Jerry Baliang meantime said only two of the provinces in the region are considered rice-deficient areas. Benguet has a deficit of 73,681 metric tons while Mountain Province has a deficit of 1,194 metric tons. The two provinces, Baliang said, are not rice but vegetable-growing areas. Kalinga has a surplus of 65,456 metric tons; Ifugao - 11,126 metric tons; Apayao - 45,200 metric tons and Abra has a surplus of 7,463 metric tons. Baliang said the government is implementing measures to further ensure food security. For irrigation, P232 million was allocated for the restoration and rehabilitation of irrigation facilities to increase crop production. The Ginintuang Masaganang Ani (GMA)-corn program was also allotted more than P16 million and over P3 million for the high-value commercial crops in vegetable growing areas. The government's rice program including fertilizers, seeds, and post-harvest facilities, among others were allotted more than P46 million. - Sun.Star Baguio