00:00The National Economic and Development Authority affirmed that the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. continues to promise to use food security.
00:10NEDA also focuses on the price of rice in the market and is making steps to bring it down.
00:16NEDA's recommendation will include extending or reviving the 15% tariff on imported rice.
00:24The current tariff is 35% according to the Department of Agriculture.
00:29The D.A. recommended the lowering of the rice tariff to address the lack of rice supply.
00:36According to Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel De Mesa, an increase in the supply of imported rice is needed.
00:42This step is far from satisfying the effect of the next wave of rice production, which is resulting in more than P10 billion.
00:50In this way, it will also help to avoid the increase in the price of rice.
00:57Like now, we expect that our production will decrease.
01:06So we still need additional imports continuously so that our volume of stocks will not decrease.
01:15Assuming that the tariff will increase by 35% from 15% and additional imports will be added,
01:25surely there will be a price spike, which we do not want at this time.
01:32Especially since our next harvest will be in March or April.
01:38Our trust is to continue improving food security.
01:45There are three dimensions.
01:48Access to food, affordability of food, and availability of food in broad terms.
