13 Enero,2025 Lunes
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supports National Bible Month 2025
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ABS 2025
No food security emergency
By J.Lo
“Our basis for declaration of food security emergency, based on section six of amendments of Rice Tariffication Law (RTL); there are two possible reasons why you may invoke declaration of food security emergency…first, there is shortage in rice supply and second, there is extraordinary increase in prices,” Agriculture Assistant Secretary and spokesman Arnel de Mesa said declaration of food security emergency is no longer option for government, since there is no rice shortage and no extraordinary spike in retail prices that would warrant its implementation.
De Mesa said DA can invoke Section Six of Republic Act 12078 or Agricultural Tariffication Act only if two conditions are met.
Newly signed law amends RA 11203 also known as RTL.
“There was drop in retail price of rice as evident by latest release of Philippine Statistics Authority ,PSA on inflation..rice was no longer big factor in inflation, unlike in previous month where staple was major factor,” De Mesa said.
He stressed retail price of rice is expected to further go down as its cost in international market is also on downtrend.
“We also expect that local production will recover this year, barring any major calamity issue, but looking at all possibilities, we could have good harvest for the year,” De Mesa also said.
He said in 2024, country’s total palay output reached 19.3 million metric tons while imported rice reached almost 4.7 MMT.
“We have enough rice supply until next harvest…so, we don’t have supply shortage in terms of rice…two possible scenarios will not be present in declaration of food security emergency,” De Mesa said.
He said various efforts are being made to bring down retail price of rice.
“Declaration of food security emergency is not part of agenda during our discussions with various stakeholders,” De Mesa said.
Meanwhile, he said DA is currently reviewing possible lifting of Executive Order 62, lowered tariff on imported rice to 15 percent.
“On possible return of original tariff on imported rice, we are looking into this… possibility that once price in international market continues to go down, DA can recommend to return tariff on imported rice to certain level, not necessarily 35 percent tariff,” De Mesa added.
De Mesa said under amended RTL law, at least P30 billion from tariff revenues will be tapped to provide assistance to local farmers.
“This will still depend on tariff collections… important that we will be able to collect taxes to meet P30 billion tariff collections,” he added.
Farmers’ groups who have been opposing implementation of EO 62, said government already lost at least P13 billion in revenues because of 15 percent tariff on imported grains.
“Review is ongoing…in fact, it was Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr who recommended periodic review, every four months, on implementation of EO 62,” De Mesa said.
He said review was done in November 2024, and next review is scheduled for March 2025.
On the other hand, De Mesa said maximum suggested retail price (SRP) of P58 per kilo effective on Jan. 20 only covers five percent broken imported rice.
“We only started maximum SRP on five percent broken imported rice…will also issue maximum SRP on 25 percent broken,” he said.
Tiu Laurel has announced implementation of maximum SRP on rice after EO 62 failed to bring down cost of rice despite flooding of imported grains.
“Our efforts to remove branding and implement maximum SRP on imported rice are aimed to tame abuses in all levels of value chain,” De Mesa said.
ISKUP! 