pogo88 DTI says food security emergency declaration out in 2 days
INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has assured the House of Representatives that a food security emergency declaration can be released within two days after lawmakers stressed that government agencies cannot move without this order.
During the hearing of the House Quinta committee on Tuesday, Trade Assistant Secretary Agaton Teodoro Uvero was quizzed by Marikina 2nd District Rep. Stella Quimbo as to when the food security emergency order will come out.
Article continues after this advertisementUvero said that the order could come out in 48 hours.
FEATURED STORIES NEWSINFO Tulfo airs side on son’s busway use: An honest mistake, apology given NEWSINFO 1998 textbook scam suspect Maslog convicted of graft NEWSINFO LTO to issue show cause order for other driver in viral Marilaque crash“Sir, in two days, lalabas na ‘yan? In 48 hours may lalabas na? (Sir, can we release that in two days? Can we do that in 48 hours?)” Quimbo asked.
“Kaya na siguro, kaya na (I think that’s enough) Mr. Chair,” Uvero replied.
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Uvero’s commitment came after Quimbo pressed the National Food Authority (NFA) for why it cannot sell or distribute cheaper rice. NFA Administrator Larry Lacson said that they can only distribute rice during emergency situations, as per Republic Act No. 11203 or the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL).
Article continues after this advertisement“Pero allowed kayo bumili ng (palay), ‘di ba? Pero sa RTL amendments, ‘pag emergency nga. Pero right now, emergency na nga ‘di ba?” Quimbo asked, to which quinta committee presiding officer and Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Salceda said that there is still no declaration yet.
(You are allowed to buy palay, right? But under the RTL amendments, during emergencies only But right now, there’s an emergency, right?)
Article continues after this advertisement“Malapit na, umiikot na. Guys naman, naka-ilang hearing na tayo? Naka-limang quinta hearing na tayo. That was the first question I asked during our first hearing […] kailangan n’yo nang i-declare na mayroon tayong emergency, because clearly, mayroong extraordinary price levels as a result of the non-translation of the tariff reductions on the current price levels and this was many weeks ago,” Quimbo added.
(It will be released soon. But guys, how many hearings have we conducted? We have been doing at least five hearings already, but that was the first question I asked during our first hearing […] that you need to declare an emergency, because clearly, there is an extraordinary price levels as a result of the non-translation of the tariff reductions on the current price levels and this was many weeks ago.)
Quimbo and Salceda then asked who does not want to sign the food security emergency declaration, to which Uvero said there was none, adding that the delay was due to the wording of the order.
“So anyway, sir, ano ang deadline niyo d’yan, pwede bang bilangin niyo sir, ilan pa ang hindi pumipirma? Paki-report po sa amin kung sino pa ang hindi pumipirma,” Quimbo said.
(So anyway, sir, what is your deadline there? Can you count how many have not signed it? And then report to us who have not signed the document.)
“DTI? Sino ang ayaw pumirma? (Who does not want to sign?)” Salceda asked.
“Mr. Chair, hindi naman sa ayaw, there were some (questions), I think it was more of the wording of the formula for declaring extraordinary price to support the declaration. Tapos na ‘yong mga comments, medyo maraming comments […] May consensus na,” Uvero noted.
(Mr. Chair, it’s not because they don’t want to sign, there were some (questions), I think it was more of the wording of the formula for declaring extraordinary price to support the declaration. The comments are done, there were a lot of those. But we have a consensus now.)
Quimbo however noted that this should not be a matter to think about, as prices of goods have been high for a long time — as inflation figures have shown.
“Sir naman, ‘wag na kayo mag-isip, tingnan niyo na lang ‘yong inflation. Nakikita niyo naman na ang contribution ng rice, ang laki-laki, it’s higher than our usual three percent. Sir naman, you don’t need to have a PhD to make that analysis, di ba, sir?” she asked.
(Sir, please don’t think much, just look at the inflation rates. You have seen the contribution of rice, it’s so big, it’s higher than our usual three percent. Sir, you don’t need to have a PhD to make that analysis, right?)
“Mayroon na, Mr. Chair. Tapos na ang draft. Umiikot na,” Uvero said. “Kahapon, na-finalize ‘yong version na okay na sa lahat. It’s more of the wording, kasi dumaraan sa usual complete staff work of the secretaries na hindi ‘yan pipirma kapag hindi na-review. That’s the bureaucracy of it eh. Dadaan lang doon sa review.”
(We have it, Mr. Chair. The draft is finished, it is moving around. Yesterday, we have finalized the version that is okay with everyone. It’s more of the wording, because it went through the usual complete staff work of the secretaries who would not sign without reviewing it. That’s the bureaucracy of it eh.)
Last January 15, the National Price Coordinating Council (NPCC) told the quinta committee that it is looking at possible measures that would allow the Department of Agriculture (DA) to declare a food security emergency, and eventually mitigate rising prices of basic commodities.
DTI Director Cherryl Carbonell said that the NPCC met on January 14, and they are looking at crafting a resolution declaring an extraordinary increase in prices of goods.
Committee on agriculture and food chairperson and Quezon 1st District Rep. Wilfrido Mark Enverga said he hopes this can be acted upon immediately.
Talks about a food security emergency however started way beyond that. Last December 2024, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said that they are considering the declaration of a “food security emergency” by January as it scrambles to rein in the prices of rice.
Laurel told the Inquirer in a text message that he was scheduled to meet with key agencies under the DA, including the Bureau of Plant Industry and the National Food Authority (NFA) to assess the national rice situation.
READ: DA mulls ‘food security emergency’ to rein in rice prices
The quinta committee is still discussing issues involving rising prices of goods, particularly rice. Previously, the DA said it will implement the maximum suggested retail price (MSRP) for premium grains, with the belief that making high-class varieties cheaper would also impact regular-milled rice.
READ: Garin to DA: Defer maximum SRP for premium rice, study it first
The MSRP would then be reviewed monthly to consider factors affecting prices.
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www royal888casinoGuevara showed confidence at a Senate budget hearing on Wednesday about meeting the DOE’s target to open more renewables capacity to the private sector.
READ: DA sets imported rice price cap at P58/kg
Howeverpogo88, several lawmakers asked that the MSRP be stopped due to the lack of a clear methodology on how the maximum price could be determined.
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