00:00Senator Francis Pangalinan seeks to investigate rice traders to uncover the possible reason behind the questionable price increase of imported rice, as our VEL Custodio reports.
00:12Rice retailers at the Kamuning Public Market report a slight increase in the price of imported rice.
00:19They attribute this to the upcoming 60-day import ban starting September 1.
00:23Dahil ng dagay na nagsabi sila na 60 days na walang imported, kaya sila siguro yung nagtaas.
00:31Ang tinasamayin dito ang malaki, kaya nga na kukupitin mo yung mga 50 centavos per kilo.
00:37Pero ba naman ay hindi? Pero ang pag-release namin, kayong parin.
00:41Imported rice in the Kamuning Public Market is 47 to 49 pesos per kilo depending on whether it is regular milled, well milled or premium rice.
00:49Local rice is sold at 37 to 42 pesos, also depending on the variety.
00:54The delivery of the 20 pesos per kilo rice from the National Food Authority to market continues.
00:59According to the Department of Agriculture, there is ample rice stocks in the country,
01:03so President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directive to implement an import ban in September should not be used as a pretext or an excuse to raise the price of imported rice.
01:12Philippine Statistics Authority show that 2.8 million metric tons of rice are available in the market, including household, commercial and NFA stocks.
01:22Ang bilis naman nun, wala pa nga yung import ban, di ba? September 1.
01:26Ang daming dumating na bigas nitong mga nakalipas na buwan at may parating pa hanggang August.
01:32So, hindi nila dapat gamitin na reason na dahil may import ban, tataas na agad, di ba?
01:39So, tapos ang laki pa ng harvest, record harvest tayo.
01:42So, we have lots of rice in the market.
01:45Tsaka, this is a calibrated response ng ating Pangulo, ni Secretary, dahil alam nila na maraming bigas.
01:52The mere fact na inimpose yung ban, dahil napakaraming bigas sa markado.
01:58Imported rice shipments are still allowed to enter the country until the end of this month, including those already contracted for importation this year.
02:07According to Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform Chair Francis Pangilinan,
02:12rice warehouses should be inspected to determine the possible reason behind the price increase of imported rice despite the abundant supply.
02:20Ang kinakailangan talaga dito, busisiin itong mga traders, yung mga warehouses ng bigas,
02:28ma-check kung nagkakaroon ba ng hoarding dahil na may mga patakaran ang gobyerno.
02:35Kailangan umakso ng DA kasama ang NBI, kasama ang DTI para sa Consumer Protection Act at yung Price Act.
02:47May kapangyarihan para busisiin itong posibleng nagsasamantalan ng mga pronouncement ng gobyerno.
02:57Kaya tumataas ang presyo.
02:59So kung tumaas ang presyo ng bigas after the announcement,
03:02sino ang mga nagtaas?
03:05Bakit?
03:07Tingnan itong Price Act on the grounds na merong profiteering at price manipulation.
03:14Following this, the DA said it will visit rice warehouses to verify its supplies,
03:19particularly of imported rice, are indeed dwindling.
03:23Vel Custodio for the National TV Network for a new and better Philippines.
