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Onion crisis can happen for rice
By Nidz Godino
"What commitment can you give to us as we have remaining funds for 2023, there are available options like rice importation…what commitment can you give us to assure our fellow Filipinos that experience for onions in 2022 will not happen to rice in 2023?" Marikina 2nd Distict Rep. Stella Luz Quimbo asked Agriculture Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban DA have failed to commit last year's crisis on onions, retail prices of bulbs reached as high as P720 per kilo, would not be seen for rice this year amid spike in cost of Filipino staple.
During recent hearing of House of Representatives committee on appropriations on DA's proposed budget of P167.5 billion for next year, Quimbo asked officials to make commitment there would be no situation for rice similar to December last year, when onion became expensive commodity.
Panganiban did not answer and instead tossed question to Agriculture Undersecretary for rice industry development Leocadio Sebastian.
Quimbo repeated her question after DA officials refused to give categorical answer.
"Nobody wants to commit, afraid…anyway, Agriculture Undersecretary for policy, planning and regulations Mercedita Sombilla said thinnest stock is August, 44 (days; rest of the months, stocks are going up, so there are supplies… way I look at it, you should be ready to commit to us… Usec. Leo Sebastian said there is no cartel…why are you afraid to commit to our people that experience for onions in 2022 will not happen for rice?" the lawmaker said.
By way of a reply, Sombilla said, "actually, for August, we are already expecting something 150,000 metric tons of rice imports."
Quimbo reiterated she wanted direct answer from DA officials.
"Just simple answer as it's already getting late in the evening…" lawmaker reiterated.
Sombilla said DA would continue to talk to private sector.
"President Marcos had already made instruction to monitor prices and to also monitor how traders are getting their stocks out… I think with all of these pronouncements by the President, we will probably be able to secure that amount of rice we need for August and September, before peak harvest," she stressed.
Quimbo then inquired on commitment of DA on retail prices of rice.
"Price… I don't think we can dictate it; it all depends on world market," Sombilla replied.
Quimbo lamented failure of DA officials to provide concrete answer on expected prices of grains.
Sombilla eventually provided forecast she said retail price of rice is expected to go down to as low as P45 per kilo once peak harvest season starts in October.
"We expect local prices to be on level of P45, P47, P50 for premium and special rice…hopefully, with coming of harvest season, we would probably expect it to level off to lower prices," she said.
Data from DA showed retail prices of local regular-milled rice ranged between P36 and P44 per kilo month ago compared to latest prevailing price of P55 per kilo or difference of P11 per kilo.
Retail prices of local well-milled rice a month ago ranged between P40 and P49 per kilo, compared to latest price of P57 per kilo or difference of P8 per kilo.
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