The Department of Agriculture (DA) in the Philippines has firmly stated that there is no shortage of rice in the country, despite plans to declare a food security emergency. This assurance was given by DA Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa during a news forum in Quezon City. He emphasized that the decision to declare an emergency would be based solely on the extraordinary increase in rice prices, not on a lack of supply, as the nation has ample rice stocks.
Recent government efforts to curb rice prices include the reduction of tariffs from 35% to 15% through Executive Order 62, and initiatives like the Kadiwa program. Despite these measures, rice prices have not decreased to the expected levels, remaining high even as global rice costs decline. This situation prompted the National Price Coordinating Council to urge the DA to declare a food security emergency.
As of mid-January, the price range for regular and well-milled rice in Metro Manila was between PHP37 and PHP53 per kilo, while premium and special rice ranged from PHP48 to PHP65 per kilo. In response to these high prices, the DA is seeking to restore the National Food Authority’s (NFA) mandate on rice importation, focusing on market regulation and intervention without needing to declare an emergency.
Furthermore, the DA is considering classifying rice imports based on the degree of brokenness, which affects pricing from countries like Thailand, Vietnam, India, and Pakistan. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has also proposed a hybrid tariff on rice to help lower prices, indicating a multi-faceted approach to tackling the issue of high rice costs in the Philippines.