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'No sense of urgency': Solons hit slow pace of declaring food security emergency
Lawmakers criticized government agencies for lacking urgency in declaring a food security emergency, especially as rice prices remain high.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) stated it needs two working days to review the National Price Coordinating Council's (NPCC) resolution seeking the emergency declaration.
The NPCC, chaired by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary, will release the resolution this week after consulting with stakeholders and agencies like the National Economic and Development Authority.
DA spokesperson Arnel de Mesa clarified that the department aims for a total of three days for the review process, including the NPCC's release of the resolution.
President Marcos supports the declaration of a food security emergency to bring down rice prices.
The government may declare a food security emergency by the first week of February to address persistent high rice prices.
A primary objective of the emergency declaration is to lower rice prices and ensure the release of existing stocks from the National Food Authority (NFA).
Previous measures, such as reducing rice import tariffs from 35% to 15%, did not yield the expected results in lowering prices.
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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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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) 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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Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. declared a food security emergency for rice on Monday, February 3, due to an extraordinary spike in rice prices.
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