Study legality of food security emergency ­– group

MANILA, Philippines — Farmers’ group Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) yesterday asked the Department of Agriculture (DA) to fully study the legality of the food security emergency amid its impending declaration.

FFF national manager Raul Montemayor said that the DA should review the propriety of the plans to reduce rice prices, saying these measures should not sacrifice the interests of farmers.

“If NFA rice is sold at P38 per kilo, traders, to remain competitive, will have to buy dry palay from farmers at P19 per kilo. At this price, most rice farmers will either break even or have very little left after paying debts and other expenses,” Montemayor said.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. on Friday said that he expects to declare a food security emergency tomorrow after he formally received the approved resolution of the National Price Coordinating Council (NPCC) on Jan. 30 recommending its declaration.

This will enable the National Food Authority (NFA) to release its rice stocks, currently around 300,000 metric tons or six million bags through local government units (LGUs) and Kadiwa stores.

Montemayor said NFA will account for almost 25 percent of the Metro Manila rice market, if it proceeds with its plan to unload 30,000 tons of its buffer stocks per month.

He added that while the disposal of NFA rice may decongest its warehouses to accommodate incoming harvests, the agency’s P9 billion procurement fund for 2025 can absorb just four percent of palay output in the first semester alone.

“Additionally, few farmers actually manage to sell their palay to NFA, because they lack access to dryers and post-harvest facilities needed to comply with the agency’s strict grain quality standards,” Montemayor said.

According to Montemayor, the DA should clarify its basis for possibly declaring a food security emergency.

At the same time, Montemayor questioned the failure of the DA and other government agencies to go after importers, wholesalers and traders who were clearly profiteering by selling rice at high prices despite the fact that import costs had gone down following the 20 percent cut in rice tariffs in July 2024.

Executive Order 62 lowered the tariff on imported rice to 15 percent from the previous 35 percent.

Montemayor also asked Congress to address inconsistencies and gaps in the newly enacted Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Law and amendments to the RTL.

Tiu Laurel gave assurance that the DA can justify the legality of the food security emergency if it will be questioned in court but warned the procurement of palay from farmers may be affected if the NFA fails to release its aging stocks.