Some rice retailers in Alabel, Sarangani have expressed worry over the declaration of a national food security emergency on rice.

A rice retailer said they might suffer losses.

“Wala pud tay mahimo, sunud na lang gyud ta sa ilahang patakaran,” rice retailer, Nancy Tanod, said.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has declared a food security emergency on rice based on recommendation of the National Price Coordinating Council.

Under the declaration, the National Food Authority (NFA) is ordered to distribute rice buffer stocks to government agencies, including local government units.

In a report by GMA New Online, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. said earlier that the declaration is meant "to force the price down" after the government has done everything to do so.

However, the Municipal Agriculturist Office of Alabel assured that rice retailers have nothing to worry about.

“Dili angay mabalaka ang atong mga rice retailers, no, kay ang demand sa atuang pagkaon, taas gyud kaayo whereas ang atuang supply labi na sa murang bigas gamay lang nga percentage ang iyahang ma-cater,” Municipal Agriculturist, Giselle Gestupa, said.

The Municipal Agriculturist Office added that the decrease in the supply of rice due to floods may also be a reason why a food security emergency on rice was declared.

“Ing-aning mga panahon, ang maapektuhan siguro ang mga farmers when it comes sa buying price sa fresh palay so dili man ni siya permanente, naa man gyud nay ihatag nga options ang government kung malugi man sila sa pagbaligya sa ilang (palay) or break even lang naa man ihatag laing support especially sa inputs for rice cropping,” Gestupa said.

“Halimbawa, mag-harvest mi, unfair pud sa amua nga kinahanglan pud nga patas ba mobarato ang palit, I-ubos pud ang kanang sa mga chemicals, abono. Lisud pud ana,” a farmer, Laryboy Belleza, added.

At present, the price of imported rice sold at a store in Alabel Public Market is P55 per kilo while the price of local rice ranges from P46 to P50 per kilo.

A consumer said the government must control the prices of rice.

“Ang masasabi ko lang i-control sa gobyerno na pabor sa mga pobre katulad ko na naghihirap din,” a consumer, Doming Ramos, said.