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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Marcos directs gov't agencies to keep rice affordable

Marcos directs gov't agencies to keep rice affordable

Published Aug 30, 2023 08:19 am

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has ordered government agencies to use available legal tools to keep rice affordable in the country.

BBM on rice price.jpg
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. (Photo courtesy of Malacañang)

Marcos made the directive during a meeting with the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Bureau of Customs (BOC) in Malacañang.

"The Chief Executive directs all concerned agencies to utilize the available legal tools in controlling the price of rice and make this affordable especially to poor households," Malacañang said in a statement.

The President also ordered the DA, which he heads in a concurrent capacity, to ensure other support mechanisms for farmers and traders alike should legal measures be invoked by the government in controlling the price of rice.

Marcos expressed concern over the price of rice amid cases of hoarding, the effects of consecutive typhoons to rice-deficit regions, and prices posed by middlemen.

He, however, noted that there is enough rice supply in the country as of date, based on the most recent rice outlook presented by the DA.

Marcos also ordered the Customs bureau, in coordination with the DA, to study possibilities of donating seized rice to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The Chief Executive also directed the Customs to intensify its crackdown against rice smugglers and hoarders.

Since the beginning of his presidency, Marcos promised to bring down the price of rice to only P20. However, in February this year, he backtracked saying, it will take a long time for this to come to fruition.

The Agriculture department explained that it will not be easy to achieve the P20 per kilo of rice amid current challenges such as fertilizer cost, fuel cost, the ongoing El Niño, and the back-to-back typhoons that hit the country recently.

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