According to retailers: Rice prices rising daily

CEBU, Philippines — The Grains Retailer Confederation of the Philippines-Cebu Chapter said prices of commercial rice are increasing almost everyday.

“Terrible ang increase. Everyday nagsaka,” says Grecon-Cebu Chapter president Teresa Alegado, who is also the incumbent mayor of Consolacion, Cebu.

She said that as far as three weeks ago, she already knew that this was going to happen since rice wholesalers had brought to her their concern on their fears of a price spike.

The FREEMAN tried to get data from the Department of Agriculture-7 as to its price monitoring of commercial rice in Cebu but was told only the head office will release the information.

However, data from the Cebu City Market Operations Division's (MOD) monitoring of Carbon Public Market actual retail prices of rice showed that there is an increase of P2 to P6 per kilo, depending on the brand, from July 26 to August 15.

"Ganador" was previously sold at P48 to P52 per kilo but is now at P49 to P56 per kilo, while the "Princess Mia" brand, which used to be sold at P44 to P47 per kilo, rose to P47 to P53 per kilo.

"Princess Bea", P45 to P48 per kilo to P48 to P53 per kilo; Doña Conchita (Orange), P50 to P54; Doña Conchita (Blue), 48 to 52; and Jasmine, 46 to P50.

"Rice retailers claim that there is an increase in price of some brands after wholesalers charge them for higher price rates due to the current rice supply situation in the country,” the MOD said.

Not all rice vendors here, however, have already increased their prices.

“Dili man kaayo gyud nga nisaka gyud pag-ayo. Naa lang slight nga pagsaka. Pero pagkakaron, diri sa atong Carbon Market, naa gihapon tay mapalit nga tag-P47 ang kilo. Naa sad tay tag-P48, tag-P49,” said Engr. Robert Barquilla, MOD head.

He assured that in the meantime, prices of imported rice being sold in Cebu City’s markets remains “under control.”

He said they will continuously monitor the city’s public markets and satellite markets to ensure that vendors are not taking advantage of it.

He said the slight increase in the prices of imported rice could be attributed to the decision of the national government to limit its importation.

“Ang akong nahibaw-an is ang pag-import nato...is limitado na. Once nga limitado na ang pag-import nato, ang supply man gyud na ang maapektohan. So, basically, kung low atong supply unya taas ang demand, mosaka gyud na ang presyo,” Barquilla said

Earlier, Senator Grace Poe warned of a possible rice crisis in the country as India, the global leader in rice exportation, recently restricted its rice exports after flooding in the country destroyed rice crops, triggering supply speculations and panic buying in some parts of the world.

In a privilege speech, Poe said India's rice exportation ban may cause a spike in global rice prices and affect local markets in the country, where, according to recent Social Weather Stations data, six out of 10 Filipinos are already considered "food or near food poor".

“We cannot blame India for their decision. They have a primary responsibility to 1.4 billion of their citizens. But we also have the same obligation to 113 million Filipinos, especially the 3.4 million children and students that rely on the government's feeding programs," she said, in a statement posted on the Senate website.

Poe encouraged the government to "appoint a full-time Department of Agriculture (DA) secretary, improve irrigation systems and policies, climate and disaster-proof local crops, prosecute agricultural smugglers, and ensure that the 2024 budget for the Department of Agriculture is increased and spent well, to minimize the negative effects of India's rice export ban to the country".

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. is the concurrent DA secretary.

The FREEMAN tried to ask some netizens on their observations on the recent increase of rice, which is considered as the staple food among Filipinos.

They said they observed that rice prices really went up to even as high as P60 per kilo.

“Ang akong palitonon nga tag-P47 sa una karon P51 per kilo na. Hahay, kalisod na ba sa panahon pero smile lang gihapon,” said Mariechu Abelgas.

“Grabe na gyod ka taas sa bugas kada kompra nako one sack uminto P200 per sack. Ang Ivory from P2,360 now P2,560 per sack. Mosaka  pa daw until October,” also said Fernando Ouano.

“Na-shock ko last night sa pink rice nga P56 na that I used to buy at P50!” likewise said teacher Mercedita Demoral.

Reporter and news anchor Renan Alangilan said the five kilos of Ganador he buys used to be P230 but now it is already P265.

Meanwhile, National Food Authority (NFA)-7 Information Officer Olma Nedia said their rice sold at the "Kadiwa nang Pangulo" booths remains at P25 per kilo.

She said that under Republic Act 11203 (Rice Trade Liberalization Law), the NFA is mandated to focus on local rice procurement to ensure buffer stock for the country, during calamities and emergencies.

She said that as of last Monday, August 14, NFA-7 has released 38,461 bags to various local government units (LGUs) and other relief agencies.

She also said that as of August 14, NFA-7 has a total stock inventory of about 77,000 bags of local rice that are ready for distribution in case of emergencies and calamities.

This, Nedia said, will be augmented with rice inflow from source regions, particularly from Regions 4 and 12.

“In terms of buffer stocking, in case of emergencies and calamities, ready ra gyud mi mo-distribute for DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development), LGUs, and other relief operating agencies,” she said.

She added that if there are no storm or other calamities, their NFA rice are stored at warehouses, where control measures are in place to ensure the quality.

Nedia said they also have other ways to replenish their stocks. — Caecent No-ot Magsumbol (FREEMAN)