Removing branding on rice to proceed

As part of government efforts to bring down the retail price of rice, the move of Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. to remove branding on rice will proceed, despite warnings that it could further sow confusion.

- Bella Cariaso, Cecille Suerte Felipe

In an interview, Agriculture Assistant Secretary and spokesman Arnel de Mesa said that officials of the Department of Agriculture (DA) met twice to finalize the plan to remove the labeling of rice.

This was after Tiu Laurel said retailers and traders are intentionally confusing consumers with premium rice imports to justify the high prices of the grains.

Tiu Laurel has said that he wants to standardize the labeling of rice so that consumers will not be shortchanged by unscrupulous traders.

De Mesa said that during a visit to the Guadalupe Market in Makati, Tiu Laurel discovered that a particular variety of imported rice was being retailed for over P60 per kilo despite its landed cost of only P40 per kilo.

According to De Mesa, based on their consultation with traders and importers, they have already profited if at least P6 to P8 per kilo will be added to the landed cost of the imported staple.

‘Deceptive tactic’