A rice retailer inspects his inventory on September 6, 2023 at the Marikina City public market (INQUIRER / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE)
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Tuesday said that rice sold at P20 per kilo could come to fruition once the agriculture sector and the cost of production stabilizes and normalizes.
In a statement released by the Presidential Communications Office, Marcos explained that several global factors directly affected the prices of basic commodities in the country, which has prompted both the government and the market to adjust.
Despite this, he insisted that the government could still achieve the P20 per kilo of rice should these factors normalize.
“May chance lagi ‘yan, kung maayos natin ang production natin at maging maayos, hindi na tayo masyadong bagyuhin at ‘yung mga tulong na ibinibigay natin sa mga farmer ay magamit na nila,” Marcos, who is also the concurrent agriculture secretary, told reporters.
(There’s always a chance — if we manage our production and it goes well, we won’t be hit by too many storms, and the farmers will use the aid extended to them.)
The President said it would be easy for the government to adjust once everything normalizes.
“Ngunit, kapag talaga nagawa natin ang cost of production binaba natin ay bababa rin ang presyo ng bigas. Bababa rin lahat. Basta’t mas mataas ang ani kahit na pwede nating ipagpantay ang presyo,” he explained.
(But, when we lower the cost of production, the price of rice will also decrease. Everything will go down. As long as the yield is higher, we can set a better price.)
Marcos assured the public that the government is exhausting all remedies to ensure that rice prices in the market are affordable to the Filipino people, especially the less privileged.
He noted that there are enough measures to ensure a reasonable buying price for farmers.
RELATED STORIES
Seized smuggled rice given to 4Ps recipients in Zamboanga City
Marcos satisfied with implementation of price cap on rice
NFA raises palay buying prices, says Bongbong Marcos