• 2 days ago
Unang Balita is the news segment of GMA Network's daily morning program, Unang Hirit. It's anchored by Arnold Clavio, Susan Enriquez, Ivan Mayrina, and Mariz Umali, and airs on GMA-7 Mondays to Fridays at 5:30 AM (PHL Time). For more videos from Unang Balita, visit http://www.gmanetwork.com/unangbalita.

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Transcript
00:00We're back here in Pasay City Public Market where the Department of Agriculture is implementing
00:06the maximum suggested retail price for imported rice.
00:11We asked some of the sellers here what the effect is.
00:15They said that they are following the DA.
00:17They are now implementing 58 pesos per kilo for imported rice.
00:20But they said that the price will be cheaper for the traders
00:25or for those who are buying the rice that they will sell.
00:28We will now talk to the spokesperson of the Department of Agriculture, Mr. Arnold De Mesa.
00:34Good morning, Mr. De Mesa.
00:37Good morning, Susan. Good morning to everyone.
00:40Mr. De Mesa.
00:43Good morning, Susan.
00:44Sir, how is your monitoring here in Metro Manila?
00:48Yes, how is the monitoring?
00:50How is the compliance of the rice sellers in the MSRP for imported rice?
00:56Susan, as of now, we are happy because we can hardly see a price that is increasing to 60 pesos.
01:07Unlike when the DA and DPI went around last year before Christmas,
01:13we saw a lot of premiums and specials at 60 pesos.
01:18This is a big help to our countrymen.
01:21We are hoping that in two weeks' time, in our periodic review,
01:25we can lower the MSRP of imported rice.
01:33What is the target of the DA to lower the MSRP so that you can have a review after two weeks and compliance,
01:40if the effect of this is good.
01:42On the other hand, what is your target to lower the price?
01:47In two weeks' time, the target is to lower it to 55 pesos.
01:51After two weeks, the target is to lower it to 50 to 52 pesos.
02:00Wow, that's great news.
02:02We talked to some vendors here in Pasay City Public Market,
02:06the rice sellers.
02:09They said that it would be better if the MSRP is lower.
02:14Earlier, it was 58 pesos, but they got 57 pesos from the traders.
02:20Is it possible for the MSRP to be lower for the traders?
02:29Actually, Susan, when there was a competition,
02:32the profit margin here at 58 pesos was 10 pesos, which normally is 6 to 8 pesos only.
02:38The DA consulted with our importer traders,
02:43not on the pricing of our landed cost to the retailers.
02:51We saw that the MSRP is lower.
02:54As of now, the price of December 10 to January 10,
02:59the price of the international market of Thailand and Vietnamese rice is lower.
03:05So we can expect that the MSRP will be lower for the retailers.
03:15I have a different question, Sir Demesa.
03:19Is the DA monitoring that the price of pork has increased in some families here in Metro Manila?
03:28Have you received such a report?
03:31Yes Susan. In the first half of January, we experienced 10 to 20 pesos increase in the price of pork.
03:41This is also the reason why in the third quarter and fourth quarter,
03:45the ASF increased.
03:50At the same time, in the fourth quarter, the demand for pork increased.
03:55We experienced in January that there was a decrease in the supply of pork,
04:02but that will be recovered soon.
04:05We expect that the price will return in the coming weeks.
04:13This is the recommendation of the National Price Coordinating Council
04:18to declare a food security emergency
04:21so that the NFA can use the buffer stock and lower the price of rice.
04:27What do you think, Sir Arnold Demesa, will this be favorable?
04:32Will this help our farmers?
04:35Of course, because Susan, if we don't release the stocks of the NFA,
04:41it will be difficult for the NFA to buy in the coming harvest season of March and April.
04:48Normally, the NFA is the reference price of the farm gate price of rice.
04:55That's high, between P17 to P29.
05:02It's a big deal if the NFA can buy from our farmers.
05:08It's a better price for the traders to follow.
05:11When will the DA make a decision on this recommendation, Mr. Demesa?
05:19We expect, Susan, that we will receive today the recommendation of the National Price Coordinating Council.
05:27If we receive it, we will review it until tomorrow.
05:31Our colleague, Secretary Francisco Chulaurel Jr. mentioned that by Wednesday,
05:37we can take action on this recommendation.
05:45Okay. Thank you very much, Mr. Arnold Demesa,
05:48spokesperson of the Department of Agriculture.
05:51Good morning to you.
05:53Thank you very much, Susan. Good morning.

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