00:00The National Economic and Development Authority, or NEDA, assured the Marcus administration
00:05is committed to achieve food security.
00:08The NEDA is closely monitoring rice prices and is taking steps to reduce the cost of
00:13the staple grain.
00:14The agency is scheduled to submit a recommendation tomorrow on whether to extend or withdraw
00:20the imposition of a 15 percent tariff on imported rice from 35 percent.
00:25The Department of Agriculture has already recommended to retain the lowered rice tariff.
00:30According to Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa, an increased supply of imported
00:35rice is necessary to mitigate the impact of consecutive typhoons on local rice production,
00:41which cost more than 10 million pesos in damage.
00:45This measure will help ensure stable rice prices.
00:48Now, we are expecting that our production will decrease, so we still need additional
01:01imports continuously so that our volume of stocks will not decrease.
01:08Assuming that the tariff will increase by 35 percent from 15 percent and there will be additional imports,
01:17surely there will be a cost spike of the price, which we do not want at this time.
01:24Especially that our next harvest will be in March or April.
01:30Our trust is to continue improving food security.
01:37There are three dimensions, access to food, affordability of food, and availability of food in broad terms.
01:54We are focused in reducing prices.
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