BY IME SORNITO AND JEN BAYLON
ILOILO City – To manage rice price variations, the Department of Agriculture (DA) plans to enforce a suggested retail price (SRP).
On Monday, a technical committee convened, according to Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa.
The SRP may be released next week. The DA’s Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (AMAS) is in discussions with stakeholders regarding the SRP proposal.
De Mesa said higher retail prices for rice are expected as the lean season approaches, with local production being minimal and reliant mostly on higher-priced imports.
In Western Visayas, DA Region 6 has yet to receive instructions regarding the SRP, said Maria Teresa Solis, chief of the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division.
Based on DA-6’s price monitoring, there hasn’t been a price increase for rice or other commodities from December to January.
In the first week of January 2024, the prices for imported rice were:
* Special (blue tag) – P60 per kilo
* Premium (yellow tag) – P57 per kilo
* Well-milled (white tag) – P55.75 per kilo
For local rice, the prices were:
* Special (blue tag) – P58 per kilo
* Premium (yellow tag) – P53 per kilo
* Well-milled (white tag) – P52 per kilo
* Regular-milled (white tag) – P47.50 per kilo
Ildefonso Dolorfino, president of the Iloilo Grains Businessman Association, expressed concerns that an abrupt implementation of the SRP could lead to protests from rice traders facing high purchasing costs, ranging from P23 to P25 per kilo.
He suggested a need for consultation and a study of the SRP’s impact before its implementation.
Dolorfino said traders would agree to an SRP if given a one-month grace period to sell their stock, which was purchased at higher prices.
He emphasized the need for a balanced pricing approach that neither disadvantages traders nor overburdens consumers.
Dolorfino also suggested that the government’s continued imposition of a price ceiling on rice at P41 to P45 for both regular and well-milled varieties would be more beneficial.
Various rice retailers shared their sentiments. Marites Jinon, a stall owner in the Jaro Public Market in Iloilo City, acknowledged the necessity to comply with the government’s mandate if the SRP is implemented “kaysa ipasara ang tindahan.”
Nathaniel Falsis, another retailer, said his decision would depend on the government’s proposed SRP.
“Ambot kun masarangan ko ang presyo nga i-suggest nila. Kis-a naga-pangompra man lang kami, nagabakal man lang kami sa traders,” said Falsis.
He added: “Depende sa pangumpra. Kon mataas ang kumpra namon, nagapatong man kami.”
JP Apostol from Guimaras said he would favor the SRP once he could purchase rice at lower prices from traders.
“Subong medyo mahal ang kumpra namon sang bugas, depende sa delivery namon,” said Apostol.
The Iloilo Grains Businessman Association, which has over 50 members, along with other stakeholders, presses for further consultation before the implementation of the SRP./PN
