00:00The Agriculture Department is committed to implementing P58 per kilo of imported rice.
00:06According to the DA, it is expected that in the next few days,
00:10there will be no higher prices of imported rice for the families in Metro Manila.
00:15Vel Custodio of PTV with the news for the country.
00:22Officials from the Department of Agriculture and Department of Trade and Industry
00:28for the Special Price and Supply Monitoring
00:31for the primary buyers here in Trabajo Market, Sampaloc, Manila.
00:37The Special Price and Supply Monitoring is committed to implementing
00:41the Maximum Suggested Retail Price of P58 per kilo of imported rice.
00:46But according to the DA and DTI,
00:49some rice farmers are still selling P60 per kilo of rice.
00:54In defense of those who are selling, they are just letting the old supply run out
00:58and they will also replace the rice at a lower price when the old stocks run out.
01:03That is also what our secretary said.
01:06That is why she did not implement it right away because she knows that we still have stocks.
01:11So what we expect is that within the next few days or weeks,
01:16we can strictly implement P58.
01:21And it is still going down. So we really need to have an adjustment period.
01:26The guidelines of the Department of Agriculture and Department of Trade
01:30for the period of compliance have been issued.
01:32Aside from rice, agencies are also evaluating the price of other primary products.
01:37We noticed that the price of meat here is a bit high compared to other markets that we monitor.
01:46We are already looking at it.
01:48Maybe there is an effect on the rent or something.
01:52That is what we will look at.
01:54Meanwhile, it is possible for the DA to declare a food security emergency
01:58and is just waiting for the resolution to be issued for this.
02:02The food security emergency has two uses.
02:06First, it can really help lower the price of rice.
02:10Second, the NFA stocks can be issued.
02:13And these stocks are lower.
02:15We expect that it will be P38 per kilo.
02:18So its volume is big.
02:20So it has an effect on lowering the price.
02:23After receiving the resolution for three days, the food security emergency can be declared.
02:29We're checking it now because we also have to give time to the DA, due diligence for the review.
02:37As pronounced by the Secretary, if the review is good, he will make the necessary action as soon as possible.
02:45The DA will continue to assist the local government units
02:49for the implementation and maintenance of the correct price in the market.
02:58The Department of Agriculture will give up to two weeks' notice
03:03to lower the maximum suggested retail price of P58 per kilo of imported rice
03:08before they continue with its implementation.
03:12We expect that the DA and DTI will continue to inspect the markets,
03:19especially that the DA aims to make the price of rice more affordable for the masses.
03:25From People's Television Network, Vel Custodio, Balitang Pagbansa.
Comments