Gov’t hits disinformation on farmgate prices of rice

Farmer groups that have reported low palay prices are only exaggerating data and sowing disinformation to push for the amendment or repeal of the rice tariffication law (RTL), according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).

In a strongly worded statement released on Saturday, the agency debunked reports that the farmgate price of palay dipped to P12 a kilo earlier this week, which groups and organizations blamed on the controversial rice policy.

The Federation of Free Farmers, in particular, said the abundance of local supply and imported rice saturated the market, which took a heavy toll on farmers who still could not compete with cheaper imported rice.

“The interest groups, along with former DA officials, have exaggerated data on palay to push for the amendment or repeal of the RTL. They are resurrecting old arguments against RTL,” Agriculture Secretary William Dar said.

He pointed out that the agency was now using an online system to track and consolidate data and the numbers showed that palay prices in top-producing areas were at P19 a kilo, while the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that as of the second week of September, the average farmgate price of palay nationwide was at P17.12 a kilo.

The technology, called the Philippine Rice Information System (PRiSM), conducted a quick palay price survey report between Sept. 16 and 30.

It showed that the average price of palay in Central Luzon and Cagayan Valley were at P18 and P19 a kilo, respectively.

The two regions account for more than 30 percent of the country’s palay harvest, which reached 18.8 million metric tons last year.

DA said the PRiSM was used to conduct a survey in 16 regions with 219 respondents, among them farmers, traders and millers.

It also considered price monitoring reports from DA regional field offices and provincial and municipal local government units.

“We base our analysis and decisions using more reliable data,” Dar said. “We go down to the communities to monitor and ensure that our interventions are in place and benefit our farmers.”

In a press briefing, the official also said that the rice tariffication law should not be amended yet, adding that the policy would take time before all stakeholders benefit.

While data provided by the PRiSM and PSA may be accurate, the PSA also showed that there were provinces with palay rates pegged at P12 a kilo. These included North Cotabato, Abra, Benguet, Davao City and Davao del Norte.

For now, the DA continues to lobby for the assistance of local governments and other government agencies. Those who would not be catered by government procurement, Dar said, were entitled to cash and food assistance under the Bayanihan Law. INQ