With its “economies of scale” now in place, an official of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said that the administration of President Marcos is treading the right path in providing affordable rice in the market.

(File Photo/MANILA BULLETIN)

Speaking in a Palace briefing, NEDA Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon noted how lower rice prices could come to fruition with the Marcos administration’s economies of scale.

“That is the general direction that we will be going to – kumbaga may economies of scale ka. So, kung ganun (it’s like you have economies of scale. So, if that’s the case), going forward, yes, we can attain that pero, ayon nga, marami pang kailangan mangyari muna (but there are many things that need to happen first),” she said on Tuesday, Nov. 7.

The NEDA official echoed the President’s remark during Tuesday’s sectoral meeting held in Malacañang that agricultural production should be done in a commercial scale.

With this, Edillon explained the farmers will be able to put in the “proper investments.” She also underscored that there must be sustainable research and development (R&D) nationwide.

“So, with respect to improvements ng R&D, ‘yung irrigation natin. Sa ngayon, ang ginagawa natin is ‘yung (it’s our irrigation. For now, what we are doing is) clustering of farms, farm consolidation, para maging malalaki ang mga (so it will be bigger), you know farm sizes. We should be able to replicate that across the country,” she added.

Edillon was reacting to newly appointed Agriculture Secretary Franciso Tiu Laurel Jr.’s statement that the P20 per kilo of rice is not yet possible at this time.

But for now, rice prices in the market will remain the same, she said. “At this time, hindi pa talaga pwede (it’s not yet possible).”

Asked if the P20 per kilo rice is still feasible before Marcos’ term ends, Edillon said she sensed it as “an aspiration” of Laurel, noting that he is more knowledgeable in the agriculture sector.