Rice at P20 a kilo?

MANILA - Rice at P20 a kilo? It’s possible according to Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, who said the Marcos administration is now concentrating on major palay-producing areas with the goal of maximizing their production levels to attain its target of having P20 per kilo of rice.

Bersamin said the government is doing everything to lower the price of rice and other basic commodities. “Iyong 20 peso per kilo, as we started out saying, was an aspiration. Ibig sabihin noon, it may not be soon, it may be later… maaabutan din natin iyan,” Bersamin said.

“But you know, factors of production, hindi tayo masyadong ano dahil marami ng areas na hindi na nagpo-produce ng rice…But those areas that are producing rice, we try to maximize iyong production levels nila. That’s another thing that we are doing now in order to reach that aspiration,” he added.

According to Bersamin, reaching that rice price point is not an entirely unrealistic ambition or aspiration, although there are several factors that might impact government initiatives. Among those factors include weather conditions, climate change, and the looming El Niño phenomenon that may affect agricultural production, he said.

“Pero ginagawa ng gobyerno lalo na iyong Department of Agriculture na experts ay gamitin ito na advantage din kasi there are species of rice that thrive in moderate, even during moderate El Niño—prediction of moderate El Niño occurrences,” Bersamin said. “Gumagawa ng paraan ang Department of Agriculture upang hindi masyadong mahirap ang epekto sa rice production.”

Asked if the administration has a timetable in attaining that goal, Bersamin did not give a timeline, but expressed confidence that it may soon be realized. “Hindi ko naman sinasabing matagal na ma-attain iyan; hindi ko rin sinasabing madaling ma-attain iyan. But I am saying that I am very confident that as long as the government is doing things right to attain these goals, that aspiration may soon be realized. Bakit hindi?” he said.

Syndicates

Bersamin also assured that cases will be filed soon against agricultural syndicates. He said Marcos’ stern warning against smugglers and hoarders saying “that their days are numbered.”

“I think it will be very soon that cases will be filed against the real responsible for smuggling and food hoarding,” Bersamin said, adding the government has validated intelligence reports on the identity of the smugglers and hoarders, with some of them already known even in previous administrations.

“Their names have already been mentioned in prior administrations as engaged in smuggling of food products and they are very, very hazardous to our economy and our health,” he said without identifying any of the smugglers for a still unknown reason.

But Bersamin said the President’s order to the Department of Justice is to form a task force against anti-smuggling. He said the task force is still gathering evidence and no reports have been forwarded yet to the Office of the President.

“That is a personal undertaking of the President. He really means to deal with these people, the justice that they deserve. His (Marcos) statement to me was a very correct statement of his sentiment against smuggling and economic sabotage,” he said.

Marcos previously said that there are many syndicates involved with hoarding and controlling the supply of onions and other agricultural and fishery products in the country. The Department of Justice said at least seven suspected smugglers have been identified so far. (Mindanao Examiner)