Due to the influx of imported rice that entered the country, local farmers are now complaining about the ₱4 to ₱5 per kilo decrease in the farmgate price of “palay” (unmilled rice), farmers’ group Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) said.
“Habang hindi bumababa ang presyo ng bigas, farmers are reporting decreasing farmgate price of palay [between ₱4-5/kilo] (While the retail price of rice remains high in the market, farmers are reporting a decrease in the farmgate price of palay, or unmilled rice [between ₱4-5/kilo]),” Jayson Cainglet, the executive director of SINAG, said.
“Nauna pang bumaba ang presyo ng palay, kesa pagbaba ng presyo ng bigas (The price of palay dropped before the price of rice did),” he went on.
The farmers’ group claimed that rice prices have not fallen because the increased profits are benefiting exporting countries and importers.
“[At least] 800,000 metric tons of imported rice entered the country under reduced tariffs,” said Cainglet.
On June 20, President Marcos enacted Executive Order (EO) 62, lowering rice tariffs from 35 percent to 15 percent.
SINAG said the hands of DA Secretary Francisco “Kiko” Tiu Laurel Jr. are supposedly tied, saying the current predicament of local rice farmers is not his fault.
“We can only sympathize sa predicament ni Sec. Kiko Laurel. Hindi naman siya ang nagtulak ng EO 62, but burden ng DA na maipababa [ang] presyo ng bigas (He is not the one who pushed EO 62, but it is the DA's burden to lower the price of rice),” the executive director of SINAG said.
Cainglet said the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) was the one that allegedly pushed for the tariff cut.
“Those who pushed for tariff reduction and promised lower rice prices (at least ₱7 per kilo) as early as July, are now eerily quiet,” he said.
As EO 62 will be reviewed next month, the farmers’ group urged NEDA to “accept the reality of a failed rosy prediction of cheaper rice prices.”
Based on DA’s price monitoring as of Sept. 19, imported rice in Metro Manila markets is retailed for ₱42 to ₱65 a kilo.
Local rice, meanwhile, is being sold for ₱47 to ₱65.