DAHIL SA NAGBABADYANG KRISIS, P20 NA BIGAS, MALAYO PA SA KATOTOHANAN – FFF

April 21, 2023

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National News

Muling giniit ni Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) national manager Raul Montemayor na posibleng rice shortage sa darating na Hulyo hanggang Setyembre 2023.

Sa programang Strictly Issues, sinabi ni Montemayor na pangunahing dahilan umano ng pagnipis ng supply ay dahil sa carry over stock noong nakaraang taon.

“Ang unang problema natin ‘yong carry over stock natin from 2022. Medyo manipis. About 55 days supply when normally, it should be about 80 days to 90 days”

“Number 2 problem, ‘yung importation nong first quarter ng 2023. Medyo humina nang kaunti dahil nagmahal ‘yong imported rice. So, it’s about 790,000 tons in the first quarter as against a little over 900,000 tons last year during the same period. and then we have the dry season harvest”

Dagdag pa ni Montemayor na hindi maari makapag-import ng bigas ang National Food Authority dahil sa pinatutupad na Rice Tarrification Law.

“Medyo nakatali kasi ang kamay nila (NFA) kasi if they buy from farmers right now, they’re buying prices 19 pesos per kilo. Pero ‘yong mga trader ang presyo nila umaabot ng P23. So, ala silang mabili ‘no? And then pangalawang problema nila, paubos na ‘yong stock nila kasi dini-dispose thru Kadiwa? Because that buffer stock, buffer eh, reserba ‘yan for calamities.”

“Although the government cannot import, the private sector has all of the freedom to import. So, baka gano’n ‘yung pwede nilang gawin. Papaano nilang matulungan ‘yong private sector na umangkat ng sapat despite the situation.”

Dahil sa nakikitang sitwasyon ni Montemayor, malabo pa daw na mangyari ang ipinangako ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos na P20 na presyo ng bigas.

“Tumataas ‘yong presyo eh. Palayo, imbes na lumalapit sa 20, lumalayo tayo. So medyo mahirap ipaliwanag ‘yan. And then I say we have ample supply, there is no problem but people will ask, bakit tumataas ang bigas? So, ‘yon, I think they have a handle of the situation. Of course, publicly they do not want to alarm the public. Naghahanap sila ng paraan.”