DA: No rice shortage, but may declare emergency due to high prices

The Department of Agriculture (DA) clarified on Saturday that there is no shortage in the country's supply of rice, despite plans to declare a food security emergency.

Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa emphasized that the only basis for declaring an emergency under Republic Act 12078 is an extraordinary increase in rice prices, not a lack of supply.

Despite government efforts like Executive Order 62 reducing tariffs and programs such as Kadiwa to lower prices, rice costs remain high but have shown some decrease.

Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. previously indicated that the DA will declare a food security emergency for rice before January's end due to rising retail prices.

De Mesa also mentioned the DA’s request to Congress to return importation regulation and market intervention powers to the National Food Authority (NFA) without needing an emergency declaration.

The DA is considering classifying imported rice based on brokenness percentages, which affects pricing from different countries like Thailand, Vietnam, India, and Pakistan.