AGRI DEPARTMENT TO CONSULT STAKEHOLDERS ON RICE PRODUCTS SRP

By Junex Doronio

MANILA — Concerned that rice prices have accelerated to a 14-year high last month, the Department of Agriculture (DA) on Saturday disclosed that it will conduct consultations with all the stakeholders to come up with suggested retail prices (SRPs) on rice products.

DA spokesperson Asec. Arnel de Mesa said the SRPs would help ensure that rice would remain affordable to Filipino consumers.

“Hindi ka puwede basta mag-issue ng SRP without doing the consultations with all the stakeholders, from the consumer groups, producer groups, ganoon din sa traders and millers, lahat sila ay dapat nakokonsulta sa pagtatakda ng suggested retail price (SRP),” De Mesa said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

The DA issued the statements in the wake of reports from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) that rice inflation surged to its fastest rate in 14 years last December.

DA Secretary Francisco “Kiko” P. Tiu Laurel Jr. has recently reshuffled some high-ranking officials in his bid to make the agency “more efficient.” 

(el Amigo/MNM)