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P350/kilo retail price of ginger hit
By Nidz Godino
“Hoarding is possible, that’s why it is important to check imported ginger as there is importation… cold storage facilities should be checked,” Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) chairman Rosendo So said Farmers’ group Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) asked Department of Agriculture (DA) to inspect cold storage facilities for possible hoarding of ginger amid spike in its retail price despite importation.
Agriculture Assistant Secretary and spokesman Arnel de Mesa said at least 4,248 metric tons (MT) of imported ginger from China have arrived.
“That corresponds to 30 percent of total volume that we are expecting…most of the ginger came from China but we opened up importation to other countries,” he said.
According to De Mesa, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has allowed importation as ginger-producing areas like Calabarzon and parts of Sierra Madre were affected by recent typhoons.
De Mesa said retail price should only be below P100 per kilo.
So stressed despite current low production in Nueva Ecija, they expect local production to normalize in November or December.
Based on monitoring of DA in Metro Manila markets, retail price of ginger ranged between P220 and P350 per kilo.
SINAG also asked Supreme Court to issue temporary restraining order against Executive Order 62, allowed lower tariff on imported rice, saying revenue losses reached P6.2 billion but retail price of staple remains high.
“Retail price of imported rice did not move…based on data released by Philippine Statistics Authority, difference on well-milled rice was only 20 centavos, meaning reduction of tariff did not help,” So said.
EO 62 took effect on July 7.
According to So, at least 1.15 million MT of imported grains have arrived since implementation of EO 62.
“That’s about 23 million cavans of 50 kilos of rice… National Economic and Development Authority should return original tariff (of 35 percent) in imported rice… we already lost P6.2 billion in tariff collection… up to end of the year, revenue losses will reach P12 billion,” So said.
He noted that prevailing retail price of rice ranged between P50 and P52 per kilo.
“ P43 per kilo of rice can only be found in Kadiwa centers but retail price is not going down in general market,” So said.
He noted that government authorities have vowed retail price of grains will go down by as much as P7 per kilo with implementation of EO 62.
Based on monitoring of DA in Metro Manila markets, retail price of imported regular milled rice is sold as high as P48 per kilo; imported well-milled rice, as high as P55 per kilo; imported premium rice, as high as P60 per kilo and imported special rice, as high as P63 per kilo.
Peasant leaders led by SINAG, Federation of Free Farmers, United Broiler Raisers Association, Sorosoro Ibaba Development Cooperative and Magsasaka party-list have asked high tribunal to declare order null and void and unconstitutional.
ISKUP! 