[DO NOT PUBLISH, REPETITION] The Department of Agriculture (DA) found that well-milled rice grains sold at ₱43 per kilo, already lower than its former retail price at ₱45 to ₱48 per kilo, could be sold for even less.
The Agriculture Department had negotiated with retailers to lower well-milled rice across Metro Manila.
The DA Spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa and Assistant Secretary Genevieve Guevara, discovered rice could be bought for as low as ₱42 or even ₱40 at Mega Q-Mart in Quezon City, following an in-person inquiry, reported Edniel Parrosa.
De Mesa said they will be looking into the possibility of buyer exploitation prior to the price reduction, especially since the series of tropical cyclones had minimal effects on supply, as is true with vegetables.
The Department stressed they are not imposing a Suggested Retail Price (SRP) or price ceiling in spite of calamities.
“Maga-adjust ‘yan accordingly, depende. ang ₱5 naman depende kung magkano ‘yung dating sa kanila. Hindi naman ‘yun fixed. Hindi naman tayo nags-set ng SRP or price ceiling, walang ganoon,” De Mesa told reporters.
In a separate interview on DZRH Stories, the Bantay Bigas organization belittled the government’s settlement with rice retailers. The DA should not have settled for negotiation, nor should they reduce tariffs, but instead subsidize local producers, the group said.
“So lahat iyan ay artificial na pakita lang ng gobyerno na resulta ng palagi niyang ipinapangako na bababa na yung presyo ng bigas,” Bantay Bigas Spokesperson Cathy Estavillo told DZRH.
