NFA mulls scrapping P27 rice

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BY PRINCE GOLEZ

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February 19, 2018
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MANILA – The National Food Authority (NFA) considers removing the cheapest NFA rice from the markets.

NFA rice may be bought for as low as P27 and P32 per kilo, making the staple provided by the agency the cheapest available and the most sought by many consumers.

“[Pero] ’Pag ang P27 na bigas mo masyadong malayo doon sa commercial…uubusin iyong P27 mo,” said NFA spokesperson and Region 3 director Rex Estoperez.

Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate of Bayan Muna party-list assailed the idea as “anti-poor” and “the height of insensitivity.”

It will be “an added burden to consumers already overburdened by the skyrocketing prices of other commodities due to the TRAIN law,” Zarate said, referring to the new law that raised the income tax-exempt cap but increased taxes on various commodities.

The agency pointed to the supposed shortage in rice supply as a factor in the idea of removing the P27 NFA rice.

But Estoperez said nothing is final as the NFA will still have to decide how much the cheapest NFA rice available should be.

Any adjustment will have to be approved by the food council and President Rodrigo Duterte, he said.

Removing the supply of cheap rice will not ensure food security and stabilize prices, said Zarate.

“(It) runs counter to the mandate of the NFA which is ‘To ensure national food security and stabilize supply and prices of staple cereals both in the farm and consumer levels,’” he said.

It would only create “instability” and “further hardships” for consumers, Zarate said, adding that the NFA should “drop” this idea and focus on “helping farmers increase their yield.”

“Ang solusyon sa kumokonting lupang sakahan ay ang pagpapatigil sa land use conversion ng agricultural lands at pagpapatupad ng tunay na reporma sa lupa,” he said.

In response, the Department of Trade and Industry said this is “not the right time” to take cheap rice off the markets while the Department of Agriculture stressed that its programs ensure that small farmers will not lose income. (With ABS-CBN News/PN)
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