By Junex Doronio

MANILA — Expect to tighten belts more as rice inflation may remain elevated until July of this year, making the envisioned P20 per kilo an impossible dream at this point.

On Tuesday, National Statistician Dennis Mapa disclosed that the rice inflation figures are the highest seen since the 22.9 percent recorded in March 2009.

“Sa world market, mataas ang presyo ano, so tinitingnan natin ang–in fact, sa discussion with Department of Agriculture, nakikita nila na patuloy ang pagtaas,” Mapa said.

He noted that the cost of regular milled rice averaged at P49.65 per kilo in January, up from P39.60/kilo recorded the year before and P48.48/kilo in December.

Well-milled rice prices also went up to P54.91/kilo, higher than the P43.92/kilo in January 2023 and the P53.82 in December.

It was observed that special rice prices also increased to P63.90/kilo, higher than January 2023’s P53.76/kilo, and December 2023’s P63.8/kilo.

“So, sa ngayon nakikita natin na compared to last year, kanina, mga P10-11 yung increase. Mababang inflation rate as I mentioned (noong) January of 2023 hanggang mga July of 2023. So kung patuloy na parang ganito yung presyo, dahil may base nga tayo, ang expectation natin is that we will have rice inflation in the vicinity of 20 percent or higher hanggang mga July,” Mapa explained.

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said inflation reached a 14-year high of 8.7 percent in January 2023 as prices of onions and sugar soared.

(el Amigo/MNM)

By Junex Doronio

LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu — Not to be outdone by Cebu island province, Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan has announced that starting December, Olango Island dwellers will be the first Lapu-Lapu City residents to get a chance to buy rice worth P20 per kilo.

Chan said the local government mulled to sell the P20 per kilo rice in Olango island where he garnered more “solid votes.”

On Tuesday, November 28, together with Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez who represented his first-degree cousin President Marcos Jr., Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia launched the “Sugbo Merkadong Barato” (SMB), a pop-up store that will be installed in all local government units (LGUs) in Cebu and sell rice at P20 per kilo for indigent families.

Chan has backed out from the longtime plan to push for a separate province that comprised the islands of Olango and Mactan, including the municipality of Cordova, apparently fearing to earn the ire of Garcia who balked at the idea.

Olango island, famous for its 920-hectare Wildlife Sanctuary which is a haven for migratory birds from Siberia, Northern China, and Japan, was once the strong bailiwick of Chan’s former patron, the Radaza political dynasty that ruled this highly urbanized city which has an international airport for 18 long years.

Chan is now building his own political dynasty, with wife Cindi as the representative of Lapu-Lapu City’s lone district and only daughter Daday as the barangay captain of Basak, the largest barangay.

The mayor disclosed that the city government is planning to procure 1,000 bags of rice from the National Food Authority (NFA).

He said even if the rice is worth P25 per kilogram, but the city will subsidize the P5 so they can sell them at P20 per kilo.

However, each person could only buy 3 kilos of rice in order that every Olango islander could avail the P20 per kilo of the staple food.

Chan added that the local government’s move is in line with the program of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr to realize a P20 per kilo of rice.

“We, the local government, maningkamot nga mapaabot nato ang Kadiwa ng Pangulo. Dunay program ang presidente, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., nga tag P25 per kilo, which the city will subsidize P5 per kilo. So with that, naa tay P20 per kilo ang atong bugas,” the mayor said.

Ironically, Chan is a strong supporter of the Duterte political dynasty that he even vowed to go bald if then Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte would not run for president in 2022.

Chan broke his promise when the feisty Davao City mayor ran for vice president instead.

(ai/mnm)

Learners from Salawag National High School are given lessons on how rice is being harvested at the Rice Garden in Rizal Park on Friday, November 17, 2023.

The month of November is designated as National Rice Awareness Month, as it creates, promotes, enhances and sustains rice awareness among the youth.

(Benjamin Cuaresma/ai/mmm)

By Liezelle Soriano

MANILA — The newly appointed Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. on Monday said that the P20 per kilogram unit price of rice was “an inspiration but still not possible today.”
In a press briefing, Laurel said he hopes to make the rice more affordable but “it will be not easy.”

“The P20 per kilo (unit price) was an aspiration, ‘di ba? Ang problem now, we are in the 15-year high sa world market…Today that is not possible. But with ‘yung directive ni Presidente to modernize, irrigate, use the right seeds, mechanize, and all of that, maraming gagawin, we are getting ready to do our best, to try to make rice affordable na kayang-kaya ng bulsa ng mamamayan,” Laurel said.

“But of course, modernizing is not easy. So it might take a little time, but we will do it as fast as possible,” he added.

The DA chief said that lowering the price of rice would be possible, however, he did not mention the exact price.

“It is possible to lower the price. But we have to have our silos, we have to have buffer stock, we have to change some laws, I believe,” Laurel said.

Earlier, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., who at the time was the DA Secretary, was confident about lowering the price of rice to P20 per kilo nationwide.

(ai/mnm)

The Amihan National Federation of Peasant Women and its provincial chapters, with support from Gabriela, organized a protest march from Morayta to Mendiola in Manila on Sunday, October 15, 2023. Their primary demand was for the Marcos Administration to address the rising prices of rice.

The group leaders emphasized that rice liberalization and government importation had been the primary contributors to the agricultural crisis in the country.

Photographs captured the demonstrators as they made their way from Morayta to Mendiola in Manila, carrying large banners to mark this year’s International Rural Women’s Day.

(Report and photos by Benjamin Cuaresma/ai/mnm)

IPINATITIGIL na ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ang pagpapatupad ng Executive Order No. 39 o ang pagpapataw ng price cap sa bigas.

Sa isang panayam sa Taguig City, kinumpirma ng Pangulo ang pagtigil sa price cap matapos niyang pangunahan ang pamimigay ng libreng bigas sa mga mahihirap na pamilya.

Tiniyak naman ng Pangulo na tuloy pa rin ang ayuda sa mga magsasaka at mahihirap na pamilyang Pilipino.

“As of today, we are lifting the price caps on the rice both for the regular milled rice and for the well-milled rice,” ani Pangulong Marcos.

“So tinatanggal na natin ‘yung mga control. Pero hindi ibig sabihin basta’t ganoon na lang dahil kailangan pa rin natin ayusin ang agricultural sector,” dagdag niya.

Ayon naman kay Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian, magpapatuloy pa rin ang food stamps program ng DSWD para sa natukoy na isang milyong mahihirap na Pilipino at pagbibigay ng tulong sa mga individual for crisis situations para makabili ng pagkain.

Matatandaan na naglabas ang Palasyo ng Executive Order No. 39 at itinakda ang price cap sa P41 para sa regular milled rice kada kilo at P45 naman para sa well-milled rice.

By Benjamin Cuaresma

MANILA — Militant groups calling for the repeal of the controversial Rice Liberalization Law and removal from office of two key members of President Marcos’ economic team, got a surprise visit from an unlikely guest on the picket line in the person of Senator Imee Marcos.

And their special guest was generous too.

Sen. Imee, elder sister of President Bongbong Marcos, distributed food packs to the protesting farmers from various organizations who braved the scorching sun Tuesday in front of the Finance Department building to press for the repeal of the RLL.

They also called on the Marcos admin to terminate Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno and Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan.

According to the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG), the two officials are being accused of favoring importation by advocating for reduced tariffs on rice and other imported agricultural products.

SINAG Chair Rosendo So expressed concerns that while President Bongbong Marcos continuously emphasized the need to strengthen local palay production, his top economic team continued to promote importation.

So pointed out that the real beneficiaries of tariff cuts were individuals involved in smuggling and hoarding of rice, not the farmers, who would suffer, especially during harvest time. (ai/mnm)


PBBM warns smugglers anew, distributes seized smuggled rice from customs

By Junex Doronio

INSTEAD OF ALLOWING THE SEIZED SMUGGLED RICE to rot, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Tuesday led the distribution of confiscated rice to poor families as he indicated that the days of hoarders and smugglers are numbered.

“Kaysa naman masayang ang mga bigas na ito ay minabuti na nating ibigay sa mga mamamayan,” the President said.

The distributed rice was from 42,180 rice sacks worth an estimated P42 million that the Bureau of Customs (BOC) earlier seized in Zamboanga City.

“Magsisilbing babala rin ito sa mga smugglers at hoarders na ang bigas sa bansa ay ating babantayan,” President Marcos further said.

So far, the rice has been given to poor families in Zamboanga, General Trias in Cavite, Camarines Sur, and now in Manila.

The Chief Executive warned that smuggling, hoarding, and abuse are prohibited in the “Bagong Pilipinas” (New Philippines), the PBBM’s rebrand of government.

He also expressed confidence that his campaign promise that rice will be sold at P20 per kilo will still be realized once the agriculture sector and the cost of production stabilizes and normalizes. (ai/mnm)

By Junex Doronio

HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL for the reduction of rice prices as the head of the Agriculture Department’s Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) on Wednesday revealed that rice prices have finally started to stabilize.

As of Tuesday, September 19, the DA said rice was being sold now in Metro Manila at P40 to P62 per kilo.

“Dahil nga ang ating mga presyo ay nagiging stable na, once we find, the [Department of Agriculture] and the [Department of Trade and Industry], find it na ito ay stable na, we can already recommend to the President kung ano ang future na puwedeng gawin,” BPI Director Glenn Panganiban said.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. has also expressed confidence that rice prices could still go down to as low as P20 per kilo as he promised during the 2022 presidential campaign.

“May chance lagi ‘yan,” the President said on Tuesday, September 19, when interviewed by reporters in Zamboanga City.

The DA-BPI said that based on its monitoring, 90 percent of rice retailers in Metro Manila follow the mandated price ceiling of P41 per kilo for regular milled rice and P45 per kilo for well-milled rice.

(ai/mnm)

By: Junex Doronio

SAYING that the high price of rice was caused by neighboring Asian countries that beefed up their buffer stock and local traders hoarding their supply, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. on Tuesday expressed confidence that his promised P20 per kilo during the 2022 presidential campaign is still attainable.

“May chance lagi ‘yan,” the President said when interviewed by reporters in Zamboanga City.

This possibility was expressed by the Chief Executive despite the El Niño and other agricultural matters.

PBBM, however, noted that it was important to fix rice production and other issues, most especially when natural calamities reduce rice yields.

“Ngunit, kapag talaga nagawa natin ang cost of production ibinaba natin ay bababa rin ang presyo ng bigas. Bababa rin lahat. Basta’t mas mataas ang ani kahit na pwede nating ipagpantay ang presyo,” the President said.

He also ordered the Bureau of Customs to strengthen its monitoring of rice imports.

Earlier, the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) said that the P20 per kilo target was still possible if agriculture productivity improved.

(ai/mnm)

TAHASANG sinabi ni Mang Albino, isang rice retailer sa Quezon City, na ang ayudang P15,000 na ipinamahagi
ng gobyerno nitong nakaraang Sabado ay nakatulong ngunit hindi, aniya, sapat.

Ayon pa sa kanya, may mga tauhan siyang pinapasuweldo, trucking cost at puwesto na binabayaran.

Sa isang panayam naman sa isa pang rice retailer na si Andy Domingo, sinabi niya na ang ipinamahaging P15K na kanyang tinanggap ay nakatulong naman at ayon pa sa kanya ay maraming mga consumers ang masaya.

Samantala, ayon naman kay Mang Arnaldo lnigo ng North Caloocan, hindi naman siguro kailangan pa ng ayuda at aniya pa, dapat ang gobyerno na lamang ang namigay ng bigas at hindi na dinadaan sa mga retailer.

Matatandang naipamahagi na sa ilang rice retailers na apektado ng price cap ang P15, 000
na ayuda mula sa gobyerno, ngunit marami ang hindi sang-ayon dito.

Umaalingawngaw naman na “KULANG” ang tugon sa ayudang natanggap ng ilang maliliit na rice retailers.

Ang video ng ilan sa mga interview ng Maharlika NuMedia ay matutunghayan dito.

(Benjamin Cuaresma/ai/mnm)

Tahasang sinabi ng rice retailer na ito na si Ma’am Jo ng Novaliches, Quezon City (makikita sa video) na ang price caps na itinakda ng pamahalaan ay maituturing na isang “BENTANG PALUGI.”

Sa isang maikling panayam ng Maharlika New Media, inilahad niya ang masamang epekto ng Executive Order 39 o ang batas na nagtatakda ng rice price ceiling.

Dapat, aniya, ay simulan ito mula sa itaas pababa at hindi mula sa kanila na may maliliit na tindahan lamang.

Nagdulot, aniya, ito ng malaking pagkabahala at pagkalugi sa gaya nilang mga negosyante.

Sinabi rin niya na bago ipatupad ang EO 39, dapat inabisuhan muna at binigyan sila ng pambentang bigas na maaaring ipagbili sa mga itinakdang presyo ng pamahalaan.

Aniya, ang mga may-ari ng bigasan ay P41 lamang ang benta sa dapat sana ay P45 kada kilo at P45 naman sa bawat kilo ng bigas na dapat sana ay P48.

Dagdag pa niya, mas kritikal ang sitwasyon ng bigas sa kasalukuyan kumpara sa nagdaang administrasyon ni Duterte. (Video at teksto ni Benjamin Cuaresma/ai/mnm)