Hontiveros seeks inquiry into ‘contradicting’ rice policy

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Risa Hontiveros has asked for an investigation in aid of legislation into the Marcos administration’s “uncoordinated and contradicting policies on rice regulation.”

In her resolution, Hontiveros questioned President Marcos’ Executive Order 39, which mandated a price ceiling on the staple, despite warnings from economic managers of its adverse effects.

She also questioned the Department of Finance proposal to remove or reduce tariffs on imported rice, saying this could affect the produce of local farmers this upcoming harvest season.

Hontiveros claimed that eliminating the tariff runs contrary to the administration’s earlier statements on the need for a government-to-government importation of rice.

The government implements these “extreme and conflicting policies” even as the National Food Authority (NFA) failed to maintain sufficient rice reserves despite a P7-billion subsidy from the government, the senator stressed.

“There is an evident lack of leadership, coordination, and cohesion in the country’s policies on rice regulation, to the grave risk and detriment of the people,” Hontiveros said in her resolution.

Sen. Imee Marcos also questioned in a chance interview yesterday the five-year importation deal with Vietnam that her brother discussed with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh during their bilateral meeting at the 43rd ASEAN Summit in Jakarta.

The senator expressed her reservations about the Vietnamese rice deal as she noted that rice from Vietnam is more expensive. She also scored the NFA for its failure to buy from local farmers for the country’s rice buffer stock.

Meanwhile, Department of Trade and Industry Assistant Secretary Agaton Uvero said the government thanked rice retailers, who incurred losses with the implementation of the price ceiling on regular-milled and well-milled rice, for their “sacrifice.”

Uvero, along with Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan and Vice Mayor John Marvin “Yul Servo” Nieto, led the distribution at the San Andres Sports Complex of cash aid or ayuda for rice sellers affected by EO 39.

A total of 192 rice retailers from Manila’s public and private markets received P15,000 each through the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Sustainable Livelihood Program, according to the city government.