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Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said he is optimistic that the planned rollout of affordable rice in groceries and convenience stores will launch on Feb. 15, noting its value in influencing the market “to be more reasonable."
Laurel told reporters on Thursday, Jan. 23, that his recent dialogue with the country’s major retail firms yielded “positive results”.
“Napaliwanagan naman sila (They were made to understand), it’s technically business as usual. Everybody just has to help out,” he said.
The DA chief said the retail chains are set to meet with Food Terminal Inc. (FTI), a state-owned corporation tasked to handle the supply of rice through participating stores.
Once the details are finalized, Laurel said he will oversee another meeting, with the program expected to launch by mid-February or, at the latest, March 1.
The DA earlier said this program would be piloted in Metro Manila, wherein rice prices were monitored to remain high.
Laurel, however, has clarified that the availability of the affordable rice will rely on the decision of retail stores.
“Depende na sa kanila kung saang reach eh. Ang usapan naman hindi naman lahat ng stores lalagyan [ng bigas] kasi there’s limitation on space eh,” he added.
(It depends on them where they'll focus on. The agreement is that not all stores will be provided with rice because there's a limitation on space.)
This initiative shall be composed of the P29-per-kilo rice, which will only be available for the country’s vulnerable sectors, as well as the DA’s Rice-for-All (RFA) program.
Various rice grades are offered under the RFA, including RFA5 or the 5 percent broken priced at P45-per-kilo; RFA 25 or the 25 percent broken at P38; and RFA 100 or the 100 percent broken at P36.
The agriculture secretary said retail stores, with enough space to install kiosks, will sell rice in sacks with a takal (measuring cup) to boot.
For stores with limited space, the rice shall be sold in two-kilo bags. Since this will be packaged, Laurel said consumers may see an additional P1-per-kilo.
“There’s a chance that it could be a little bit more, but we’re trying to keep it at bar,” he added.
Food emergency declaration looms in February
The DA chief also told reporters that the target date for the implementation of a food security emergency for rice is Feb. 1, with its guidelines set to be released before the end of the month.
Initially, the agency said it was expecting to declare the emergency last Wednesday.
However, this has since been delayed as the National Price Coordinating Council’s (NPCC) approved resolution is still making rounds within the DA.
“Approved na ‘yung principle technically, it’s the fine print eh (Its principle has technically been approved, it's just the fine print now),” said Laurel.
The NPCC, led by Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque, recently gave a nod to a resolution urging the DA to declare a food security emergency as rice prices remain high.
Under this, the National Food Authority (NFA) will be allowed to release buffer stock rice to stabilize local prices.
The NFA currently holds 300,000 metric tons of rice in buffer stocks.
Laurel, also the chairperson of the NFA Council, said their intention is to “flush out” the stocks within six months.
The plan for the disbursement is to release the stocks within areas in close proximity of the warehouses for minimal freight cost.
