House Quinta committee urges return of NFA's regulatory, trading mandate
The House Quinta Committee on Wednesday recommended the reinstatement of the National Food Authority's regulatory and trading functions as part of measures to stabilize the price of rice.
Quinta Com Co-Chair Rep. Rosanna Vergara recommended that the government also set a minimum purchasing price for palay to protect local farmers.
'When we reinstate the regulatory and trading mandate of the NFA, the Department of Agriculture sets the minimum support price on the purchasing price of the palay from the farmers to reflect the actual cost of production. So traders don't take advantage of the imported rice coming in, saying that they have to sell their palay at a loss,' Vergara said.
The committee approved Vergara's recommendation.
The Department of Agriculture is also in favor of the reinstatement of NFA's functions.
'Napakaimportante niyan dahil sa ngayon, halos wala kaming kontrol sa industriya. Kahit gusto naming tulungan yung farmers and yung consumers, medyo nakatali ang aming kamay," Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel told reporters.
"But with more regulatory powers, distribution and trading powers ng NFA, we should be able to have more control of the situation, the rice prices, pati yung price ng palay na binibili sa farmers. So importante talaga,' he added.
But Rafael Mariano of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas said more reforms should be done.
'Bagamat nire-restore ang trading and regulatory functions ng NFA, nananatili pa ring liberalized ang ating local rice industry,' Mariano told the joint congressional committee looking into the price of rice.
Mariano pushed for genuine agrarian reform and land distribution.
Another measure that the committee recommended is to restore the 35% tariff on rice from the current 15%.
'I strongly urge the Secretary of Agriculture to reconsider reverting the tariff rates to the pre-existing rates of 35% and to review Executive Order No. 62, which lowered the rate to 15% to protect our local farmers from the imported rice coming in,' Vergara said.
Laurel replied that it would be best if the increase in tariff rates were done gradually.
'Every four months, we are meeting with NEDA and the stakeholders, with the Tariff Commission and other government agencies. The last review, which was two months ago, the position namin ng NEDA is basically to recommend a gradual increase towards attaining 35%, babalik. From 15% to 35%, that might create a big shock sa market again, even to the world market,' Laurel said.
Albay Rep. Joey Salceda lauded the P20-per-kilo rice program as he hoped that it would be sustained, especially in areas where price manipulation is monitored.
'Puwedeng sabihin sustainable yung P20 per kilo. Kailangan lang talaga may government subsidy, both sa ating palay producers at sa ating rice consumers. Kasi kung hindi naman magiging subsidized, hindi naman magiging sustainable yung P20 per kilo,' Mariano said.
The committee also recommended that food establishments be mandated to offer a half-cup serving of rice to minimize rice wastage. –NB, GMA Integrated News
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