MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) is considering declaring a “food security emergency” as early as next year.
This move aims to control the rising prices of rice, a vital food staple, which has significantly contributed to the country’s inflation.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. shared this development through a text message, as reported by local media.
Rice prices in the Philippines have risen sharply in recent months.
According to the DA’s monitoring, the cost of local well-milled rice is now between PHP 40 and PHP 52 per kilogram.
This increase persists despite previous attempts to stabilize prices through various market interventions.
The DA is now contemplating stronger measures, including the potential declaration of an emergency.
This consideration comes as the DA closely monitors rice pricing and supply.
Laurel has raised concerns about possible manipulation in rice pricing, prompting the DA to explore several measures to mitigate price volatility.
A food security emergency would grant the government broader authority to regulate prices and prevent exploitative practices in the market.
If the DA proceeds with declaring a food security emergency, it would do so under the amended Rice Tariffication Law.
Initially designed to ensure food security by opening rice imports and enhancing the competitiveness of local farming, the law could provide the necessary framework for such a declaration.
The DA believes invoking this emergency provision is essential to protect consumers and stabilize the rice market.
The government is also considering banning brand labels on imported rice to curb pricing manipulation. This measure would make it more difficult for sellers to charge inflated prices based on brand perception. By standardizing packaging, the DA hopes to ensure fair and transparent rice prices for consumers.
Meanwhile, in coordination with presidential authority, the DA has been authorized to declare an emergency if the situation worsens.
This includes the allocation of PHP 5 billion from unutilized DA funds to purchase rice during emergencies, with the goal of creating a buffer stock to stabilize prices.
Additionally, the DA anticipates a price reduction in the coming months, based on stricter enforcement measures against hoarding and pricing manipulation. Lawmakers and government officials are urging the DA to implement the proposed interventions to ensure their effectiveness.