THE Department of Agriculture (DA) reiterated the move to re-allow the National Food Authority (NFA) to buy rice and sell it cheaper would stabilize cost when its retail price is too high.
At the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City, DA Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Arnel de Mesa said the proposed amendment in the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) is a much-needed intervention if the Philippines will not resort to drastic measures, such as price caps.
“We don’t want iyong mga ganitong measures kasi iyong price cap, maganda iyon sa simula pero in the long term, mayroon iyong negative economic impacts sa ating bansa,” he said.
“So, kung magkakaroon ng opportunity ang NFA to intervene, mabilis iyong epekto,” he added.
De Mesa said the rice NFA would be selling is of good quality and “relatively priced lower” than the prevailing market price for well-milled, which is between P48 to P53.
“Kasi noong una kasi, nakakapag-provide siya ng P27. But we are not expecting naman iyong ganoong presyuhan but we are expecting na relatively lower iyong presyo ng NFA,” he said.
“Kapag naipasa itong amyenda sa RTL, puwede nang mag-intervene at magdala mismo sa retail outlets ang NFA,” he added.
Under the law, the NFA’s mandate is limited to ensuring buffer stocks for disasters and is only allowed to purchase two types of produce from local farmers — fresh palay ranging from P19 to P23; and the clean and dry that sells between P23 and P30.
“So, kung makakapamili iyong NFA ng bigas mismo, mababawasan iyong gastusin ni NFA sa pag-dry, sa pag-mill at kapag bigas na iyan, mas madaling i-maintain at mas madaling i-dispose.
He assured farmers that this would only apply in cases when the country is having issues with the supply or pricing.
“Ang normal function pa rin ng NFA is to buy palay from our farmers,” he said. (PNA)
