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Thursday, April 10, 2008
Nograles opposes NFA rice price increase
MANILA -- House Speaker Prospero Nograles said the National Food Authority (NFA) should not increase the price of rice that it is selling for P18.25 per kilo, saying it must first exhaust all available options to mitigate the "spiraling" prices of rice.
"People first, before profit. Precisely, that's why there is the NFA rice which should serve as a buffer for the people to have access to the staple food," he said.
Nograles said the NFA must be reminded that it is unjust to consider increasing the price of the staple at this time when the people need the government's help the most.
"I don't think this is a wise idea when the poor are sweating under the scorching heat of the sun lining up just for two kilos of NFA rice," he said.
NFA administrator Jessup Navarro has said they were considering the price increase because of the agency's heavy losses.
He said last year, the NFA incurred a loss of P1.5 billion as it tried to keep the current NFA price.
The NFA started to buy palay (unhusked rice) at P17 a kilo as support to farmers. This will be classified as "commercial grade rice (well-milled or double milled)" and sold by the NFA at P22 to P25 a kilo. The NFA's regular buying price is P12 a kilo for the P18.25 a kilo rice.
The Speaker said it is "bad timing" for the food agency to even float the idea of increasing the price of NFA rice at a time when the price of commercial varieties and most food products "are getting out of control."
"The NFA should not operate for profit but to protect our people from profiteers. The National Food Authority was established to ensure a stable supply of rice at affordable prices. I don't think the President (Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo) will like the idea," he said.
Nograles also urged senators to help the government in battling the abrupt rise in the prices of rice and other basic commodities instead of engaging in what he called "political propaganda."
He was referring to the protests mounted by opposition Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Benigno "Nonoy" Aquino III when they filed a motion for reconsideration before the Supreme Court (SC) asking it to reverse its ruling on the issue of executive privilege.
"Food on the table, rising prices, food sufficiency, and global problems (are) more important than political propaganda and media hype of politicians or those who intend to be one," he said. (Sunnex) |
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