The rice monitoring organization Bantay Bigas has raised concerns about potential price manipulation of the essential commodity, as it recently reached P52 per kilo in the market, as reported by Bernadette Reyes on “24 Oras.”
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has stated that it cannot verify the presence of price-controlling groups, yet it expressed its willingness to collaborate with warehouse inspections.
Bantay Bigas has asserted that the sudden increase in rice prices, reaching up to P10 per kilo, strongly suggests the involvement of manipulative groups.
“Pumunta kayo ng palengke, talagang paikot ikot ang mga nanay naghahanap ng murang bigas, naghahanap ng kahit paano mababa sa 50 pesos per kilo pero wala,” Cathy Estabillo, the group’s spokesperson said.
This Monday, a group of legislators, spearheaded by Speaker Martin Romualdez, conducted visits to various markets to assess the prevailing rice prices.
“Hinahanap natin kung paano natin ibaba kasi ‘yung ibang mga trader o ‘yung mga ibang mga nagho-hoard, tinatago nila kaya nagkakaroon ng ano, artificial na shortage kaya ginagawa nilang mas mataas ang presyo,” Romualdez said.
The House leader mentioned that the matter of rice hoarding and price manipulation is currently under investigation within the chamber.
DA Assistant Secretary Rex Estoperez mentioned that the department will collaborate with the Inspectorate and Enforcement Office to conduct inspections of rice warehouses across the nation.
The surge in prices has led to proposals of imposing a price ceiling on rice, a notion dismissed by the DA and other concerned entities.
Rice prices hit P50 per kilo
“Ang SRP (suggested retail price) ginagamit lang pag nakikita natin may paggalaw ng presyo pero on the price control for now mukhang wala naman tayong emergency for now,” Estoperez said.
The Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) has expressed the view that implementing price controls is not the appropriate course of action, particularly considering the anticipated increase in supply from domestic production.
“Based on harvest, ‘yang 2,281,000 metric tons good for 64 days yan pero may buffer stock pa tayo, ‘yang ani at naimport may almost 30 days tayo,” SINAG chairperson Rosendo So said.
“‘Yang sinasabi nila ma-shoshort tayo sa September hindi natin nakikita… marami tayong stock na available, so yang October naman start ng anihan so wala tayo problem,” he added.
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