PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. described the rice supply as the country’s “most critical problem,” as his administration continues to try to bring down prices.
“That is something that we are attending to with all of the partners that we have both in government and in the private sector,” Marcos Jr. said on the sidelines in Zambales.
The president, also the agriculture chief, last week said the government is “closely monitoring” rice prices, which already topped P65 per kilo in some wet markets in Metro Manila.
Marcos added that high farm gate prices and some imported farm inputs contributed to the price increase.
Agriculture Undersecretary Leocadio Sebastian earlier admitted it was “hard” to achieve Marcos’ campaign promise to bring down rice prices to P20 per kilo.
“We never promised,” he said.
For his part, National Economic Development Authority Secretary Arsenio said Marcos’ vision of P20 per kilo of rice would only be possible if agricultural productivity improved, as the country needed to do a “lot of catching up” on the matter.
Rice demand from July to December this year is projected at 7.76 million metric tons, according to data from the Department of Agriculture. (ABS-CBN News)
