Romualdez: Cheap rice okay, but farmers should get fair income

LAOAG, Ilocos Norte, Philippines — While he welcomes the decision to sell National Food Authority (NFA) rice at P35 per kilogram, House of Representatives Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez reminded the government to guarantee a fair income for farmers to sustain local production.

Romualdez on Wednesday said that the Department of Agriculture (DA) initiative, setting a specific NFA rice price amid a food security emergency declaration, will help ensure that Filipinos can afford the country’s staple food.

But the House leader noted that there has to be a balancing act.

“Ensuring that rice remains affordable is crucial for our consumers. However, we must also ensure that our farmers receive fair compensation for their hard work,” Romualdez said.

“Ang ideal na sitwasyon ay mapanatili ang mataas na farmgate price na nagbibigay ng tamang kita para sa ating mga magsasaka habang sinisiguro na ang presyo ng bigas sa merkado ay abot-kaya para sa mga mamimili,” he added.

(The ideal situation is to maintain the high farmgate price that gives our farmers the correct income, while ensuring that the price of rice on our markets can be afforded  by consumers.)

According to Romualdez, the House will continue to monitor the implementation of the NFA rice price cap.

“We will closely observe how this policy unfolds and determine if additional government interventions are necessary to sustain it,” he noted.

“Nakahanda ang Mababang Kapulungan na pag-aralan ang posibleng subsidiya o targeted assistance programs para matiyak na hindi malulugi ang ating mga magsasaka habang nananatiling abot-kaya ang bigas para sa publiko,” he added.

(The lower House is ready to study a possible subsidy or a targeted assistance program to ensure that our farmers would not be short-changed while we strive to bring down rice prices for the public.)

The rise in food prices, particularly rice, was the main issue investigated by the House quinta committee, led by committee on ways and means chairperson and Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Salceda.  During the past hearings, lawmakers pressed the DA for solutions, particularly regarding the overdue declaration of a food security emergency.

Last January 15, the National Price Coordinating Council (NPCC) said they were looking at possible measures that would allow the DA to declare a food security emergency and eventually mitigate rising prices of basic commodities.

READ: NPCC evaluates steps for DA to declare food security emergency

But when the order was still not released by January 28, Salceda and Marikina 2nd District Rep. Stella Quimbo pressed the government agencies to make the order immediately, as Filipinos struggled to cope with expensive rice varieties.

READ: DTI says food security emergency declaration out in 2 days 

Romualdez, meanwhile, urged the DA and the NFA to coordinate with Congress to ensure that the food price cap is implemented and at the same time, does not discourage local production.

“I urge the Department of Agriculture and the National Food Authority to work closely with Congress to ensure that this policy does not unintentionally discourage local rice production,” he said.

“The end goal is food security—one that benefits both farmers and consumers.  Alam natin na hindi madali ang pagsabayin ang interes ng mga magsasaka at mamimili, ngunit ito ay mahalaga para sa ating ekonomiya at seguridad sa pagkain,” he added.

(We know that it is not easy to uphold the interests of farmers and consumers side by side, but this is important for our economy and food security.)

Romualdez said the House will also continuously assess this policy’s impact.

“Patuloy nating susuriin ang epekto ng patakarang ito upang masiguro na walang sektor ang napapabayaan,” he said.

(We will continue to assess the effects of this policy to ensure that no sector will be left behind.)

“It’s essential that all parties involved communicate openly to address any issues that may arise,” he added. “Kung kinakailangan ng mga pagbabago sa polisiya, handa kaming magbigay ng suporta upang matiyak na ang bawat Pilipino, lalo na ang mga magsasaka, ay makikinabang sa repormang ito.

(If a policy change is needed, we are ready to support that to ensure that each Filipino, especially the farmers, would also benefit from these reforms.)