DA Sec. Tiu Laurel Jr., iaapela na paikliin ang tagal ng pag-iral ng bawas-taripa sa imported na bigas

Transcript

00:00To make sure that our farmers are not left behind and that our farmers are still eager to plant,

00:07Agriculture Secretary Francisco Chu Laurel Jr. will hold a meeting

00:12at the next cabinet meeting to quickly implement a lower price for imported rice.

00:19Claes Alfardilla, for Sato Nang Balita, live.

00:24Angelique, the Department of Agriculture will recommend to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

00:31to reduce the price of imported rice.

00:39In the price monitoring of the Department of Agriculture,

00:42the price of imported rice ranges from Php 48 to Php 65 per kilo.

00:48Php 45 is the cheapest while Php 65 is the most expensive local rice.

00:55According to the Department of Agriculture Secretary Kiko Chu Laurel Jr.,

00:59it is possible that the price will drop by August or September.

01:17We're seeing that by September or August, the price will drop.

01:21This is the time when the price of imported rice will be able to return to Php 35 per kilo.

01:28The National Economic and Development Authority will approve

01:33the reduction of the price of imported rice to Php 15 per kilo.

01:38It is said that the price of imported rice will drop by Php 6 to Php 7 per kilo.

01:45It will last until 2028.

01:48But it will be appealed by Secretary Chu Laurel Jr. in the next Cabinet meeting with the President.

01:55If the price of Php 15 per kilo lasts too long, I think it will affect the farmers.

02:016 months to 1 year or 1 year by review every 4 months.

02:07Well, that was the recommendation from the industry.

02:10But some groups of farmers will still appeal to the President to lower the price of imported rice.

02:18If the main harvest reaches the last quarter of this year,

02:23imports will be cheaper presumably because of the world prices probably declining and the lower tariffs.

02:33So we're very concerned that the price of rice will really drop.

02:38Many farmers are coming to us saying that some of them are hesitating to plant rice

02:45because they might be lucky if their rice arrives.

02:51Angelique, the Federation of Free Farmers is warning that if that happens,

02:55the price of rice will possibly drop during the harvest season in the last quarter of 2024.

03:02That is the latest. Back to you, Angelique.

03:05Thank you, Claisel.