Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. announced that the agency is proposing a price cap on imported rice, in view of profiteering retailers selling rice at inflated prices.
In an exclusive interview on Dos Por Dos, Tiu Laurel said that although rice has seen a price increase in the global market, rice like Dinorado should only cost around ₱36 per kilo.
“Doon sa variant na hindi natin masyadong binibili, katulad ng tinatawag na Type 504, hindi tumaas, nasa $385 per ton pa rin. Pero ‘yung DT8 ‘yung 5451 na type, gustong-gusto ng Pilipino, umakyat na ‘yan to $470 at $455 per ton,” he said, referring to five percent broken rice.
“Ang landed cost dapat noon ngayon mga nasa ₱36, with tax… Dapat ang presyo nun sa merkado ngayon nasa ₱48 lang actually. Pero ang unfortunate dito, maraming nakikitang nagpo-profiteer, at may nagbebenta ng ₱55, ₱58, mayro’n pang ₱60, which is tingin ko, too much. Kaya humihingi kami sa ating Pangulo na magkaroon ng price cap tungkol dito, sa imported rice,” he explained.
Tiu Laurel said the DA is proposing a ₱50 price cap on premium rice imports and hopes to implement it by the end of the month.
“Basically, ang price cap na pino-propose namin is ₱50 maximum dapat, doon sa pinaka-premium,” the Agriculture head said.
While the DA will primarily be in charge of monitoring price cap compliance, Tiu Laurel said this will be a “whole-of-government” effort. Moreover, he warned that the agency may have violators’ shops closed down and their goods seized if they are caught selling rice at prices beyond the mandated limit.
“We will tap the PNP (Philippine National Police), the NBI National Bureau of Investigation), PCC (Philippine Competition Commission), DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) of course, among others para tumulong na mag-kontrol. Kasi base sa price cap ngayon, ia-activate natin ‘yung Price Act, magkaka-ngipin kami para puwede namin pa-cease ‘yan, confiscate, pasara ‘yung tindahan pag nakitang hindi sila sumusunod,” he said.
In response to a question regarding what the agency would do if retailers attempt to pass off imported rice for locally-produced grains—which is not subject to the price cap—Tiu Laurel warned that he and the DA staff can tell by sight whether the rice has been imported or not.
“Posible ‘yun dahil very tempting ‘yan sa mga negosyante, no, kahit sa retailer. Pero ngayon marunong na kami—titingnan ko lang ‘yung bigas, alam ko na kung imported o local e, kaya hindi nila puwedeng dayain ang DA,” he said.
According to Tiu Laurel, local production can only provide for 78 percent of consumers nationwide, and so the government has to import 22 percent of supplies. There are currently 180 companies included in the list of rice importers that source rice from countries like Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, India, Pakistan, and Thailand.
