Removing branding on rice to proceed

MANILA, Philippines — As part of government efforts to bring down the retail price of rice, the move of Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. to remove branding on rice will proceed, despite warnings that it could further sow confusion.

In an interview, Agriculture Assistant Secretary and spokesman Arnel de Mesa said that officials of the Department of Agriculture (DA) met twice to finalize the plan to remove the labeling of rice.

This was after Tiu Laurel said retailers and traders are intentionally confusing consumers with premium rice imports to justify the high prices of the grains.

Tiu Laurel has said that he wants to standardize the labeling of rice so that consumers will not be shortchanged by unscrupulous traders.

De Mesa said that during a visit to the Guadalupe Market in Makati, Tiu Laurel discovered that a particular variety of imported rice was being retailed for over P60 per kilo despite its landed cost of only P40 per kilo.

According to De Mesa, based on their consultation with traders and importers, they have already profited if at least P6 to P8 per kilo will be added to the landed cost of the imported staple.

‘Deceptive tactic’

Meanwhile, watchdog group Bantay Bigas yesterday said that the move of the government to sell “sulit rice” and “nutri rice” is a “deceptive tactic” amid the broken promise to bring down the retail price of the staple to P20 per kilo.

Bantay Bigas spokesperson Cathy Estavillo was referring to the move of the DA to sell “sulit” rice at P36 per kilo and “nutri” rice at P38 per kilo this year.

Reducing the price of rice to P20 per kilo was a key campaign promise of Marcos during the 2022 presidential race.

“The decision to sell Rice-For-All in the Kadiwa centers was not effective as the retail price of rice remains high at P50 to P65 per kilo,” Estavillo said.

“In reality, these programs (nutri and sulit rice) won’t drive down market rice prices because the government still relies on importation, and the pricing and supply are controlled by private traders, hoarders and smugglers. The ongoing implementation of the Rice Liberalization Law and Executive Order 62 only worsens this situation,” Estavillo added.

She added there should be a comprehensive plan to lower the retail price of rice and help local farmers.

However, De Mesa debunked allegations that the plan to sell “sulit” and “nutri” rice is a “deceptive tactic” of the government.

He noted that the agriculture secretary himself had said it is difficult to bring down the retail price of rice to P20 per kilo in view of the high farmgate price of palay and the prevailing costs in the international market.

“As of now, this is the attempt of the government to show that we will have these kinds of (sulit and nutri) rice,” de Mesa said.

Help millers

Former senator Francis Pangilinan urged the government to help small-scale rice and corn millers compete with big players and weather the influx of cheaper imported grains in the market.

Pangilinan issued the call after the Philippine Statistics Authority reported that the number of barangays with rice and corn mills dropped to 15,436 in 2023, 6.3 percent lower than the 16,476 barangays recorded in 2013.

“It is sad and worrisome that more than a thousand small rice and corn millers have closed within a decade as victims of big players and the influx of cheap imported rice and corn in the market,” Pangilinan said. “Quick action is needed from the government so that they remain standing and protect the livelihood of small farmers.”

Pangilinan said the government must beef up the capability of small-scale rice and corn millers to raise production by providing them with access to essential farm machinery.