Lawmaker seeks long-term solutions to PH rice crisis

The Manila Times

Lawmaker seeks long-term solutions to PH rice crisis  AGRI party-list Rep. Wilbert Lee says on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023, that imposing price ceilings and imported tariffs are temporary measures against the rice crisis and that the government must strive for long-term solutions.   Video and Interview by Ezrah Raya  Subscribe to The Manila Times Channel - https://tmt.ph/YTSubscribe   Visit our website at https://www.manilatimes.net   Follow us:  Facebook - https://tmt.ph/facebook  Instagram - https://tmt.ph/instagram  Twitter - https://tmt.ph/twitter  DailyMotion - https://tmt.ph/dailymotion   Subscribe to our Digital Edition - https://tmt.ph/digital   Check out our Podcasts:  Spotify - https://tmt.ph/spotify  Apple Podcasts - https://tmt.ph/applepodcasts  Amazon Music - https://tmt.ph/amazonmusic  Deezer: https://tmt.ph/deezer  Stitcher: https://tmt.ph/stitcher Tune In: https://tmt.ph/tunein  #TheManilaTimes

Transcript

00:00 I'm Ezra Raya reporting on the hottest issues and the biggest stories.

00:04 This is the Manila Times.

00:06 Senator Risa Ontiveros filed a resolution to sort out the uncoordinated and contradictory

00:12 regulations on rice.

00:15 This came after the Department of Finance proposed to cut imported rice tariffs from

00:20 35 to 10 percent and even zero.

00:23 The lawmaker pointed out that this goes against the government's promise on supporting local

00:29 rice farmers and is working against rice sufficiency in the country.

00:34 Local government units, among other agencies, have been lending support to rice dealers

00:39 that have been affected by the impact of the rice price cap.

00:43 On August 31, President Marcos issued Executive Order No. 39 mandating price ceilings for

00:50 regular milled rice at P41 per kilo and well-milled rice at P45 per kilo nationwide, which started

00:59 last September 5.

01:02 Here to tell us more is AGRI party list representative, Congressman Wilbert Lee.

01:07 Welcome to the Manila Times, sir.

01:09 Sir, what is your reaction to Senator Risa Ontiveros' statement on contradicting rice

01:14 regulations amid proposals on cutting rice tariff rates?

01:18 To me, I view this not as contradicting.

01:22 I think these are policies that the government have to try and implement.

01:27 These are the ways of our government to see what can be done.

01:33 There is no perfect formula.

01:36 There is no fixed formula.

01:39 For me, these are policies of our government that they have to look at.

01:48 These are all temporary and time-bound.

01:51 Price ceiling, lowering of tariff, these should be time-bound and has to be monitored closely

02:02 because these have negative effects on our farmers.

02:07 For example, tariff.

02:09 If we lower it, are we sure that the price will be lowered by importers?

02:16 Are we sure that the import of rice will not be hidden?

02:21 So these are all measures that has to be monitored closely, implemented properly so that it will

02:32 not be wasted.

02:33 That's what I'm saying. Although our government entails a lot of political will to implement this price ceiling,

02:43 I'm happy because this is what our President did.

02:47 It entails a lot of political will on his part to do this.

02:52 This is a stopgap measure.

02:55 Like I said, this should be monitored because the danger here is that the supply to the market will be lost.

03:03 For me, we have to think of the long-term measures, number one, by really amending our Republic Act 845.

03:13 We are amending it. I am the one who initiated the bill on this.

03:17 During the last Congress, we are also a party list of the principal author, but we did not include the punishment for the hoarders,

03:28 price manipulators and those people who are involved in the government, who are involved in the government employees or employees.

03:37 This is what we should include.

03:38 Of course, I filed the bill, this is the Cheaper Price Act.

03:43 This is my answer to the 20 pesos price of rice that we are all hoping for.

03:51 This is my answer to the 20 pesos of rice that our President is hoping for.

03:56 Sir, when do you think the rice price cap will end?

04:02 Especially when the harvest starts, the rice, do we see rice prices stabilizing soon and the rice price cap ending soon as well?

04:14 I read and heard that by mid of September, this should be gone.

04:21 I heard that this is only for two weeks.

04:23 When the rice supply starts, this should be stopped. That's what I heard.

04:34 So I think that's right.

04:38 Again, what I'm saying is that these measures should be closely monitored.

04:49 Thank you for that. Agripartylist Representative Congressman Wilbert Lee.

04:53 Thank you very much.

04:55 [No audio]

Category

Transcript

Recommended