MANILA – The issue of the prices of rice is not in the Philippines alone but in the whole of Asia.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos made the statement in response to a question from a letter sent to the Office of the President through Bahay Ugnayan, asking if “BBM” stands for “Bigas Biglang Mahal.”
Marcos clarified the increase in prices of rice is experienced globally and not specific to the Philippines.
“Hindi natin maiwasan na makita, talagang nagiging problema ang pagtaas ng presyo ng bigas dito sa Pilipinas. Pero, kung titignan po natin kahit na ‘yung mga nag e-export na mga bansa ay tumataas din ang presyo nila, halos katumbas lang ng pagtaas dito sa Pilipinas (We can’t help but see, the increase in the price of rice is really becoming a problem here in the Philippines. But, if we look at even the exporting countries, their prices are also increasing, almost equal to the increase here in the Philippines),” the President answered.
The President said studies were made to observe the prices of rice in the Philippines compared to the top rice exporting countries like Vietnam and Thailand, it showed “external shocks” such as the movement of oil prices have made an effect, proving the problem affects the region.
President Marcos assured the government is doing all it could to ensure a sufficient supply of rice and to stabilize the prices of rice in the country.
“Ginagawa natin lahat upang naman ang produksyon natin ay maging sapat na hindi na tayo nag-iimport mababawasan ang mga inputs, kung tawagin para sa ating mga farmer at sana naman ay ma-stabilize manlang natin ‘yung presyo ng bigas (We are doing everything so that our production will be sufficient so that we no longer import, inputs will be reduced, so to speak for our farmers and hopefully we can at least stabilize the price of rice),” he said.
The President answered more questions from letters received by the Office of the President from “Bahay Ugnayan”, one of the restored buildings inside the Malacañang compound turned into a museum that has been opened to the public.
Aside from issues of rice prices and supply, some of the questions answered by the President in his vlog ranged from politics to the jeepney modernization program, among other pressing issues. (PNA)
