DA: P42-per-kilo rice soon sold in some NCR markets

The Department of Agriculture has announced that it will bring the P42 Rice-for-All Program to selected markets in Metro Manila, but some groups claim that this was not a viable long-term solution to lower the price of rice.

According to a 24 Oras report by Darlene Cay on Friday, well-milled rice is currently priced at P45 to P55.

The DA said that there was a need to implement the program after rice prices did not go down after Executive Order 62 lowered the tariffs for imported rice.

They are now looking into the exact date of the release and the markets that will have the program.

“May nakita tayong tumalima, ibig sabihin, sumunod doon sa P42 hanggang P45 na presyuhan ng regular and well-milled rice pero may mga pamilihan din talaga na hindi pa rin talaga tumatalima,” said DA Spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa.

(We are seeing some people follow the P42 to P45 price range for regular and well-milled rice, but there are stores that do not follow.)

“Iniiwasan noong una [na dalhin dito ang programa] para hindi tayo makipag-compete sa mga nagtitinda sa mga pamilihan, pero dahil na rin sa hindi nga ganoon kabilis sa pagbaba sa presyo sa inaasahan so magkakaroon na ng pagkakataon,” he added.

(We avoided [implementing the program] at first so we won’t compete with the markets, but because the price of rice was not lowering down as fast as we expected, we now have an opportunity.)

However, rice retailers state that they had no choice as their suppliers also had high prices.

DA said that they continue to conduct consultations with rice retailers, traders and importers regarding the rice-for-all programs.

Meanwhile, groups SINAG and Bantay Bigas said rice-for-all programs and lower tariffs were not long-term solutions to lower the price of rice in the market.

“Makikita natin, pipila 'yung mga tao sa P42, and mauubos 'yung P42 doon sa market. At the end of the day, yung makakabenefit is hindi ganoon kalaki. Ang production costs, yun ang dapat na tutukan,” said SINAG President Rosenda So.

(We will see the people fall in line for the P42, then it will run out. In the end, people who will benefit from it aren't that much. They should focus on the production costs.)

“Tuloy-tuloy ang panawagan natin na palakasin ang ating lokal na produksyon sa pamamagitan ng subsidyo sa ating mga magsasaka,” added Bantay Bigas Spokesperson Cathy Estavillo.

(We continue to call for the strengthening of our local production through subsidies for our farmers.)

NEDA also said they intend to submit a recommendation regarding rice tariffs to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

“The goal is to reduce that further. Prices is not complete within our control. We can only intervene in the short term but over the long haul, it is best for the country to follow the trends in the market,” NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan. —Jiselle Anne C. Casucian/NB, GMA Integrated News