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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Another rice price spike? Speaker bent to find out cause

Another rice price spike? Speaker bent to find out cause

Published Nov 27, 2023 10:20 am

At A Glance

  • House Speaker Martin Romualdez said he will try to determine the reason behind the apparent price spike the local market as far as rice is concerned. 

IMG-a3ea482b22d53a0b310e0231f317a046-V.jpgHouse Speaker Martin Romualdez (PPAB)

House Speaker Martin Romualdez said he will try to determine the reason behind the apparent price spike the local market as far as rice is concerned.

Romualdez, leader of the 300-plus strong House of Representatives, led on Monday, Nov. 27 a market inspection at Farmers Plaza in Quezon City for the purpose of gauging prices of basic goods barely a month before:Christmas.

Asked about what he saw afterward, Romualdez said everything was "OK", except for prices of rice.

"Susubukan natin...yung malaman natin kung ano ba talaga yung dahilan kung bakit tumataas na konti na naman itong bigas (We will try to find out what caused this minor increase in the price of rice)," he told House reporters.

The House chief said there might be a need to inspect rice warehouses again, particularly in Bulacan.

"Dun ang talagang source e ng mga trader, ng lahat ng mga importer...Local production at importation or baka kulang yung ani di ba? Pero iche-check natin, iinspect natin (That's the source of all the traders, of all the importers...Local production and importation, or maybe the harvest wasn't enough? But we will check it, we will inspect)," he said.

Romualdez said the cheapest rice he found at retail during inspection was between P45 to P50 per kilo. Rice is the Filipino staple food.

"May pagka[ma]taas tuloy, medyo matumal tuloy ang benta (It somewhat high, thus business is slow)," said the Speaker. He didn't inspect any other market Monday.

ALSO CLICK:

https://mb.com.ph/2023/11/27/romualdez-tells-retailers-to-follow-srp-says-noche-buena-items-must-be-affordable

The Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) president said that while he doesn't see the rice price situation as a huge problem, it was imperative to keep a close eye on it.

"Syempre binabantayan natin regularly para hindi kagaya noon na biglang tataas na nabigla lahat (Of course we're keeping an eye on it so that there won't be a shocking price surge like before)."

"Yun talaga ang dahilan sa kung bakit nandito tayo, regular dapat ang mga pag-inspection para yung Kongreso makabantay at saka malalaman talaga natin yung ugat ng problema (That's really the reason why we're here, these inspections should be conducted regularly so that Congress will know the root of the problem)," Romualdez said.

House Deputy Minority Leader ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo accompanied Romualdez during his rounds at Farmers Plaza.

Related Tags

ACT CIS Partylist Martin Romualdez Erwin Tulfo Rice prices
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