4 Enero,2025 Sabado
Happy New Year!
Happy 21st anniversary, Servants of God in Jesus Christ Christian Ministries Incorporated, Rev. Nestor Sadim, Rev. Manuel Soliman, Director Jorge Lopez
No to Divorce!!!
Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez
No to SOGIE bill
supports National Bible Month 2025
supports Marked Men for Christ Philippines Seminar, January 30,31,February 1,2025, Kabaleyan Cove, San Carlos City, Pangasinan
PM for any hospital discharge problem
ABS 2025
DA vs price manipulation with removal of imported rice labels
By J.Lo
“In the coming days, our department will make announcement regarding removal of ‘premium’ and ‘special’ labels, ”Department of Agriculture (DA) will soon unveil its plan to remove labels from imported rice following consultations with industry stakeholders.
Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa mentioned DA held its first meeting on Thursday, January 2, to discuss measures to prevent price manipulation in rice.
DA is also conducting ongoing consultations with various rice industry groups and associations.
DA already announced plans on Dec. 26, 2024, to eliminate both brand names and grade labels on imported rice.
In statement, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel Jr. said these labels are often used by some retailers and traders to “intentionally confuse Filipino consumers” and “justify inflated prices.”
He clarified rule will not apply to locally produced rice, citing need to “protect Filipino farmers and traders.”
De Mesa also explained DA, along with Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), have seen some retailers set price of rice as much as P60 per kilogram in markets because it was labeled as “premium” or “special.”
Rice should have been priced at P50 per kilogram, he stressed.
“When Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel last visited Guadalupe Market with Secretary Roque from DTI, one thing we noticed was that some types of rice, should have been priced at P50 level, were found to be priced at P60 simply because of ‘premium’ and ‘special’ labels,” De Mesa said.
DA’s consultations with retailers, traders, and importers revealed markup of P6 to P8 per kilogram is sufficient to cover production and operational costs of imported rice.
While government hopes removing labels will curb price manipulation on imported rice, Bantay Bigas spokesperson Cathy Estavillo told media move will not be effective and that it undermines consumers’ right to know quality of rice and whether they are buying local or imported varieties.
She added overpricing and hoarding of rice and other agricultural commodities have long been issues, with little to no accountability enforced.
Based on DA’s latest price monitoring as of January 2, local well-milled rice in Metro Manila markets is priced between P42 and P52 per kilogram, while imported well-milled rice ranges from P50 to P54 per kilogram.
For premium commercial rice, locally-produced varieties are priced between P46 and P58 per kilogram, whereas imported brands range from P52 to P60 per kilogram.
Highest grade, special commercial rice, can cost up to P63 for local varieties and around P65 for imported options.
ISKUP! 