DA Won't Declare Food Security Emergency

The declaration of a food security emergency is no longer an option for the government, since there is no rice shortage and no extraordinary spike in retail prices that would warrant its implementation, a ranking official of the Department of Agriculture (DA) said over the weekend.

- By BELLA CARIASO

In a radio interview, Agriculture Assistant Secretary and spokesman Arnel de Mesa said the DA can invoke Section Six of Republic Act 12078 or the Agricultural Tariffication Act only if the two conditions are met.

“Our basis for the declaration of food security emergency, based on section six of the amendments of the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL); there are two possible reasons why you may invoke a (declaration of food security) emergency. First, there is shortage (in rice supply) and second, there is an extraordinary increase in prices,” De Mesa said.

The newly signed law amends RA 11203 or the RTL.

“There was a drop in the retail price of rice as evident by the latest release of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on inflation. Rice was no longer a big factor in the inflation, unlike in the previous month where the staple was a major factor,” De Mesa said.

He added that the retail price of rice is expected to further go down as its cost in the international market is also on the downtrend.