(Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee says the Marcos administration can still reduce retail prices of rice to as low as P20 per kilo through sheer subsidization by the government.

"Food security is a national security issue. Kung ganito ang perspektibo natin (If this is our perspective), we should treat our farmers as food security soldiers—an army being mobilized to feed millions of Filipino families, an army waging a war on hunger," Lee said.

According to the rookie solon, lowering rice prices to P20 a kilo is possible in the long term "if we are willing to invest in this army and are willing to implement a plan to increase local rice supplies and shield our kababayan from rising international rice prices."

The key move according to Lee is for government to not hold back in terms of funding the local rice production program.

"Ibig pong sabihin, dapat gastusan ito ng gobyerno; dapat paglaanan ng pondo taon-taon. Kung wala po tayong plano at hindi natin sisimulan ito, talagang walang mangyayari. We need to start acting now," he added.

(This means that government has to spend on it; funds should be set aside yearly. We don't have a plan or don't immediately start this, then nothing will happen.)

Incidentally, Lee has filed House Bill (HB) No.9020 or the proposed "Cheaper Rice Act", which seeks to establish a Rice Incentivization, Self-Sufficiency, and Enterprise (RISE) Program.

"Sa panukalang ito, maglalaan po ang pamahalaan ng pondo para pambili ng palay mula sa ating mga magsasaka na mas mataas ang presyo at siguradong may kita sila. Ang bibilhin natin sa kanila, ibebenta naman nang mas mura sa mga consumers," the Sorsogon native said.

(Under this proposal, the government will allocate funds to purchase palay from our farmers at a higher price in order to ensure that they profit. This purchased rice will then be sold to consumers at a lower price.)

He said that farmers will have an incentive to produce more since government has assured their income. The production of more rice will lead to lowered prices in the market, he said.

The RISE Program Act tasks the Department of Agriculture (DA), in coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and other relevant government agencies, to develop a pricing structure that will cover the minimum guaranteed prices for palay.

Rice prices are currently between P55 and P60 per kilo--almost 200 percent pricier than President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s campaign promise of P20 per kilo.

Marcos had recently ordered via Executive Order (EO) No.39 that a price cap of P41 per kilo on regular milled rice, and P45 per kilo on well-milled rice would be implemented.