CABANATUAN CITY – Nueva Ecija 3rd District Rep. Ria Vergara is pushing for a Covid-like reporting on food security amid reports of thinning rice supply.
“I join President Marcos and call on the officials of the Department of Agriculture to closely monitor, verify and assess the country’s rice stock on a regular basis, either weekly, or a daily basis even, similar to the Covid reports of the DOH at the height of the pandemic,” Vergara said in a privilege speech Tuesday.
The legislator specifically asked the DA to track rice buffer stock on a more frequent basis and the Department of Trade and Industry to regularly check prices.
Vergara whose district encompasses mostly agricultural areas also called on the DTI to set price ceilings for basic commodities, specifically for rice before the nation feel the brunt of El Niño.
Considering that local farmers have sold their palay produce during the last harvest season at an average price of P18 to P19 a kilo for fresh and P22 to 25 a kilo for dry, the selling price of locally-sourced rice must not breach P45 a kilo, she said.
She noted that “climate change will continue to have negative impact in our country’s food security, especially our agricultural sector.”
“This disruption to our rice productivity requires the government to act expeditiously to ensure we have ample supply,” Vergara added.
Noting that several countries, including the Unites States and India and have strengthened their existing policies to address the extreme effect of the weather, sha said “It is time for us to consider these kinds of policies to protect our farmers and ultimately the Filipino people,” adding the country’s situation is worsened by “unconscionable actions of cartel hoarders.”
She further sought amendments to RA 8175 that provides for the Philippine crop insurance program.
“Subalit ang nasabing crop insurance ay napakikinabangan lamang ng mga self-financed farmers at mga magsasaka na may kakayanan na mangutang ng puhunan sa tanim gamit ang supervised credit programs ng gobyerno,” Vergara said.
“Kailangan nating pangalagaan ang ating food security. Huwag nating hayaan ang mga gawain ng mga mapag-abusong government officials, mapagsamantalang mga traders, at cartel na ibagsak ang seguridad sa bigas ng ating bansa,” she said.
