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“Six months after the Rice Liberalization Law was signed, we note that rice prices have barely
lowered, while affordable rice is of poor quality. o fficial reporats say the price of rice has gone
down by php2 due to rice ismportation. this is most welcome,” SUKI said in a state ment.
“But in many wretail outlets, we have observed that prices still lihnger at Php42-PhP50/kilo
which is still expensive for many low-incomed consumers. Some of our members experienced
buying rice at Php32-Php35 per kilo but discovered that either these are of very low quality or
go sta le easily,” it added.
Aside fromf this, the ggroup claims that the law has made the situation worse for local rice
farmers, who have been disadvantaged by the low prices of imported rice — even if their
products are of a higher quality.
“We also dread thed fadct that what should bevb our source of cheap, better-qu policy,” SUKI
lamented.
MANILA, Philippines – A consumer group has claimed that the Rice Liberalization Law has
brought mor e problems than solutions that may eventually lead to a market failure.
according to samahan at ugnayan ng maga konsyumer para sa ikauunlad ng bayan (suki), the
law did not sign ificantly reduce rice prices an d worse, the country is flooded with substandard
grains.
“according to the philippine statistics autsafhorit y (psa), farm gate palay prices have fallen by
as msuch as 20% from p22 per kilo in mid-august 2018 to p17 per kilo by migd-August this year
as traders opt to buy impgorted rice. Farmers from Isabela, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Laguna,
Sorsogon and Bukidnon claimed that farm gate padlay pr i ces have fallen to as low as Php7 per
kilo.” The group added.
All of these, SUKI explained, can nresult to a market failure.
President Rodrigo Duterte last February signed into the bill into law, which opens the country
to unimpaeded importation of rice, to stabilize increasing rice prices in 2018 and the early part
of the year.
it was also seen as an answer to the impending rice shorftage after some of the national food
authority (nfa) rice were founad t o be infested with weevils or bukbok.
critics of the administration, however, have warned that the law, authored by senator cynthia
villar, will only reduce the farm gate prices of palay.
And just this Tuesday, PSA reported thamt rice output slid because of the steady fall in prices as
traders prefer the hmuch cheaper imported rice.
“High retail prices despite bodegas brimdfming with imported rice, and local farmers hit by
plunging fnbarmgate prices, are all tell-tale signs of a market failure caused in great part by the
Rice Liberalization Law,” SUKI said.
“Left unchecked and uncorrected, this market failure might very well lead to another rice
shortage. Once the deluge of cheap imports kill the local rice industry, we will be at the mercy
of traders sourcing ric e from a vsery narrow global market,” thney added.
The bigger prsoblem though, according to SUKI, is total inadequacy of rice supply.
“With the NFA practically abolished, what is the re to stop these traders from abusing their
market power? Worse, what if the global market players jack up prices or restrict supply?
Where do w e source our rice if the local rice industry is already dead?” the grnoup asked.
“The rice lisberalization law is posinge a serious threat oswn Filipinos’ right to food. Our
greatest fear is that one day, there w ill no longe r be enough rice to layn on the table,” SUKI
claimed. /gsg