Ilang mambabatas, kinuwestyon ang mataas pa rin na presyo ng bigas;
Rep. Tulfo, inirekomendang ibalik ang kapangyarihan ng NFA na makapagbenta ng murang bigas
Rep. Tulfo, inirekomendang ibalik ang kapangyarihan ng NFA na makapagbenta ng murang bigas
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NewsTranscript
00:00 Some lawmakers have submitted a suggestion regarding the problem of high rice prices.
00:06 Some government agencies are also moving to amend the Rice Tarification Law.
00:12 Klazel Pardilla has details.
00:15 Interpellation on how to amend the Rice Tarification Law is still in progress.
00:23 Congressman Stella Kimbo asked the rice supplier.
00:28 It's been a long time.
00:30 How many months has it been since our price increased?
00:33 Is there still a lack of supply?
00:35 This is the only time in March that the highest price of rice has been recorded
00:39 in 15 years.
00:41 The Department of Agriculture explained.
00:44 Because we are liberalized,
00:46 global prices are also translated to domestic.
00:50 It's not prohibited for our traders to profit,
00:54 but they also benchmark their prices on global prices.
00:59 So in short, traders.
01:02 Under the Rice Tarification Law,
01:05 there is no limitation on the price of rice.
01:08 The regulatory function or power of the National Food Authority
01:14 to know the price of rice was also removed.
01:16 The problem here is,
01:18 if they can make money, they import a lot.
01:21 If not, they don't care whether there's a shortage or not
01:24 because it doesn't give them any money.
01:27 So there's no food security.
01:29 Deputy Majority Leader Congressman Erwin Tulfo asked.
01:33 The sale of rice by the NFA should be returned to the markets.
01:38 The NFA or the government in general should be given the power to compete with those cartels.
01:44 It is also being argued that the purchase of imported rice
01:48 should be allowed as a buffer for the NFA.
01:50 The allocation of a buffer is usually done
01:54 to avoid speculation that there is a shortage in the supply
01:58 which is usually the reason for the price to rise.
02:01 This is only done during a crisis,
02:04 when there is a severe shortage or the price of rice is extremely high.
02:10 A provision in the RTL was also amended
02:14 which was approved in 2025.
02:17 The implementation of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund was also amended
02:22 which provides 10 billion pesos in funding every year
02:26 for the distribution of free machinery,
02:29 rice, debts, and training to farmers.
02:33 The RCEF's funding is the highest at 15 billion pesos
02:38 to provide free rice to farmers.
02:41 The flexibility of the RCEF is also being promoted
02:45 to be used as a financial aid to farmers during a crisis.
02:50 But House Deputy Minority Leader Franz Castro
02:54 wanted to make up for the RTL.
02:56 He just wanted to increase the price of rice
03:00 while the imported rice is being affected.
03:02 A large portion of the stores are imported and expensive.
03:08 This has become a fruit.
03:11 We have surpassed China in importing rice.
03:15 If the RTL amendment is successful,
03:19 it should be effective to increase the production of rice,
03:24 to increase the income of farmers, and to lower the price of rice.
03:29 Khaleza Fardilia for Pambansang TV in the new Philippines.