Gov't May Declare Food Security Emergency

There is sufficient basis to declare a food security emergency, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said yesterday, noting that rice prices remain high despite the imposition of lower tariffs on imported rice.

- ALEXIS ROMERO and BELLA CARIASO

"The data was very clear when we presented it to the NPCC (National Price Coordinating Council),"" Tiu Laurel told a press briefing at Malacañang. "We have solid data that show that it is really justified."

He said he is waiting for the NPCC to formally transmit its recommendation to the agriculture department for the declaration of a food security emergency.

Once he receives it, Tiu Laurel said he would seek comments from President Marcos.

Under the newly enacted Republic Act 12078 or the Agricultural Tariffication Act, the Department of Agriculture (DA) – upon the recommendation of the NPCC – may declare a food security emergency to address supply shortages or extraordinary increases in rice prices.

A declaration of food security emergency would allow the National Food Authority to release its rice buffer stocks to the market and replace them with locally produced palay.

Only NFA rice stocks a month away from aging or have been untouched for two months in warehouses may be released and sold, under the law.

According to Tiu Laurel, a maximum suggested retail price of P58 per kilo has been set and will be subject to review every two weeks. He said the unloading of 300,000 metric tons of rice from the NFA warehouse to consumers would help lower the prices because it would augment supply.

“As of the moment there is a target of bringing it down to MSRP (maximum suggested retail price) P52, P50 by end of February,” he said.

“Of course, once the NFA rice enters the market... it is hard to say exactly,” he said. “But P3 to P5 (cut) is really possible in my opinion, especially now that world prices have dropped.”

Profiteering

Asked why rice prices did not decrease despite the tariff cut and the lower global prices, Tiu Laurel replied: “In my opinion, there was some profiteering.”