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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider KMP on DA chief's remark on lowering rice prices: 'No difference' from President Marcos 'failed' strategy

KMP on DA chief's remark on lowering rice prices: 'No difference' from President Marcos 'failed' strategy

Published Nov 7, 2023 06:08 am

Farmers' group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) on Tuesday, Nov. 7 responded to the recent statement of the newly assigned Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Laurel Jr. on the "inability" of the country to lower down prices of rice to P20 per kilogram in 2023.

BBM Laurel.jpg
(Noel Pabalate/Manila Bulletin)


For KMP, Laurel will have "no difference" from President Marcos Jr. who "failed" to bring down prices of rice and food.

This was in response to Laurel's statement that President Marcos' pledge to lower rice prices to P20 per kilogram is "not possible today."

KMP also noted that during Marcos Jr. regime, "extensive" price hikes in rice occurred since the past 14 years with the usual price of well-milled rice in the market remains P48 to P55 per kilo as of November.

"Sa pahayag ng bagong DA Secretary, para na rin niyang sinabi na magtiis na lang sa mataas na presyo ng bigas at pagkain ang mga Pilipino (With the statement of new DA secretary, it seemed like he also said that Filipinos should just endure high price of rice)," KMP chairperson Danilo Ramos said.

Ramos added that in order to make progress in the harvest of rice grains, there should initially be a change in the policies which dragged farmers into suffering.

"Dapat nating igiit kay Marcos Jr na ibasura na ang Rice Liberalization Law, itigil na ang sobra-sobrang importasyon at sawatahin ang agricultural smuggling na pumapatay sa lokal na industriya ng bigas (We must insist the need to junk Rice Liberalization Law, to stop massive importations, and to denounce agricultural smuggling which kill local industry of rice)," he said.

KMP also said that even if there was a decrease in the inflation rate from 17.9 percent to 13.2 percent from September to October, the price of rice is still "not affordable" for the consumers.

The group also expressed concerns for the importation and liberalization to get worse under Laurel who was said to be known in running food businesses particularly large-scale commercial fishing, specifically the Frabelle Fishing Corp.—the largest tuna and sardines fishing company in Asia. (Lizst Torres Abello)

Related Tags

importation price hikes Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas Rice prices
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