00:00The Agriculture Department asked the lawmakers to return the former power of the National Food Authority
00:08to be able to make steps to lower the price of rice.
00:12One of those steps is the sale of rice husks for 30 pesos per kilo.
00:18And Bernadette Reyes was right.
00:24Even the Department of Agriculture is confused
00:27as to why the price of rice is still high in the market,
00:31even though the price of imported rice was lowered
00:34and even though the price of rice in the world market is decreasing.
00:37In the monitoring of the DA, the well-milled rice is still up to 54 pesos,
00:42while the premium rice is up to 60 pesos.
00:45The price of rice should be from 42 to 49 pesos max.
00:51I agree with Mr. Chair that why is it still 50 pesos, even 60 pesos.
00:57That's not right.
00:59Unfortunately, we don't have the power to catch anybody in the market
01:05because we don't have enforcement.
01:08Agriculture Secretary Francisco Chula-Reyes was confronted
01:12by the monitoring of the camera of the price of rice.
01:15He said that if the rice was sold for more than 27 pesos per kilo,
01:19the price of local rice should not be more than 49 pesos,
01:24while the price of imported rice should be 42 pesos per kilo.
01:28Chula-Reyes' solution is to return the former power of the National Food Authority
01:34to the Congress to make steps to lower the price of rice
01:38and fight the abuses in the market.
01:41The primary mission of the DA, because he removed the power from the NFA,
01:46is to produce more and make the farmers profitable.
01:51We don't have power or mission to stabilize prices.
01:57Now, the NFA is only for buffer stocking.
02:00According to the Department of Agriculture,
02:02the National Food Authority is short of 6 million bags of rice as a buffer stock.
02:07If the NFA has the power, it can be sold to buyers for 29 to 30 pesos per kilo.
02:15Before, the NFA could sell its stock of rice to the market.
02:23Now, it can't.
02:24It can also sell it to the LGU so that the LGU can sell it cheaply.
02:27Now, it can't.
02:29Before, the NFA could import rice to address the shortage.
02:35Now, it can't.
02:36So, it's a big thing to get its powers back.
02:40So, Congressman Tulfo asked,
02:42Can't the President just issue an executive order to do that,
02:47to give instruction while we are waiting for the law?
02:51Can we recommend to the President to do an executive order to release him?
02:55According to the DA, they will consult their legal department about this.
02:59For GMA Integrated News, Bernadette Reyes,
03:03NAKA TUTOK, 24 Hours.
03:12For GMA Integrated News, Bernadette Reyes, NAKA TUTOK, 24 Hours.
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