MANILA – More than 400 supermarkets nationwide were selling cheap rice under the government’s “Presyong Risonable Dapat” (PRD) program, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said on Tuesday.
Implementing supermarkets inspected by the DTI on Tuesday were selling imported rice from Vietnam for as low as P35 per kilogram.
Trade secretary Ramon Lopez crowd that Filipinos could expect even lower prices following the recent approval of the Rice Tariffication Law, which imposes tariffs in lieu of import limits on the staple.
“As more of these importers will come in, chances are puwede pang bumaba from P30 to P32, depende sa magiging importation cost nila,” said Lopez .
The trade secretary added that the law would eventually make the suggested retail price (SRP) on rice unnecessary.
“Pag dumami na ang P34, P35, you don’t need an SRP already. You remember, dati, wala talagang SRP sa rice but nang nagkaroon ng pagtataas sa presyo, we tried to put an SRP as a guide to many retailers,” he explained.
Lopez was also confident that farmers would not end up with the short end of the stick when it comes to the new policy on rice importation.
“Yung revenue proceeds from… the rice tariffication will be flown back to our farmers kaya hindi maghihirap ang mga farmers. Matutulungan sa produksyon, higher yield, lower cost, higher income,” he said.
Meanwhile, shoppers were pleased when learned of the cheap rice, though the effect this would have on local farmers was also on their minds.
“Maraming kakagat kasi mura siya, compared du’n sa mga P60 per kilo. ‘Yun nga lang, sa farmers kawawa local farmers natin,” a shopper worried. (GMA News)
