Manila Bulletin
No rice supply shortage despite food security emergency, DA assures
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. is considering declaring a food security emergency due to persistently high rice prices, even as the Department of Agriculture assures there is no rice supply shortage.
The National Price Coordinating Council (NPCC) recommended the declaration of a food security emergency to the DA on Saturday, January 18, 2025, citing elevated rice prices.
DA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arnel De Mesa clarified that while prices are high, there is no shortage of rice supply in the country.
De Mesa explained that a food security emergency declaration requires both a rice supply shortage and an extraordinary increase in prices, with the former marker not existing.
Despite lower local production in 2024 compared to 2023, the domestic market is supported by nearly 4.8 million metric tons of rice importation.
A food security emergency declaration would allow the National Food Authority (NFA) to sell rice stocks at lower prices and support local farmers through palay procurement.
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The Department of Agriculture (DA) insists on declaring a Food Security Emergency for rice despite a downtrend in global and local prices to manage the National Food Authority's (NFA) buffer stock.
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The Department of Agriculture (DA) is still awaiting an official copy of the National Price Coordinating Council (NPCC) resolution recommending a food security emergency declaration for rice.
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National Security Adviser Eduardo Año supports the Department of Agriculture's (DA) planned move to declare a food security emergency by the end of January due to rising rice prices.
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Department of Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel has not yet received the official recommendation for declaring a food security emergency, expecting it possibly next week.
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The Department of Agriculture (DA) is preparing to declare a national food emergency for rice, as early as Wednesday, due to persistently elevated prices despite government interventions.
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