Department of Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel Jr. said in an ambush interview that they might declare a food security emergency on February 4.
“By Tuesday, malamang, we would be declaring the rice emergency,” the DA chief said.
Tiu-Laurel mentioned that he will meet with the National Food Authority (NFA), Food Terminal Inc., and Kadiwa to discuss the plans for implementing the rice emergency.
“That is very welcome dahil mababawasan ang laman ng mga warehouses. Matutuwa ang mga farmers na makakabili ang NFA ng bigas mula sa kanila dahil meron nang paglalagyan,” Tiu-Laurel said.
“Releasing 300,000 tons of rice to the market within six months, I think, will soften the market, at hopefully, bumaba pa nang kaunti ‘yung presyo ng bigas,” he added.
The National Price Coordinating Council previously approved a resolution urging the DA to declare a food security emergency for rice due to the high prices.
Trade Secretary Ma. Christina Roque said that this declaration would allow the NFA to release its rice buffer stock to help stabilize prices.
As of now, the NFA holds 300,000 metric tons of rice in its buffer stock.