A BIG loss. This is what rice retailers and traders in Cebu see in case the Department of Agriculture (DA) implements its suggested retail price (SRP).
One reason the price of rice in Cebu is higher than in other parts of the country is that it is not a rice-producing province, the DA said.
The province gets its supply from Luzon, Mindanao and Panay area, and thus traders have to spend more in transporting supplies to the island.
On Tuesday, Nov. 13, during the National Food Authority (NFA) 7 meeting with Cebu rice traders and retailers, majority of the latter were against the SRP of P39 to P47 per kilo.
In the DA’s list, five kinds of rice were given specific prices, while special rice did not have an SRP.
Special rice includes pilit, Dinorado, Milagrosa, Sinandomeng, Kalinayan, Baysilanon, Sigadis, Sampaguita, and those certified by the National Seed Industry Council (NSIC).
NFA 7 Director Fernando Nuñez said they have also consulted traders and retailers from the other provinces in Central Visayas.
Confederation of Grains Retailers Association of the Philippines Inc., (Grecon) Cebu Chapter president Teresa Alegado also presented the price of rice per sack and the loss that the retailers will incur with the SRP.
They will file an appeal with the NFA national office and to DA Secretary Emmanuel Piñol to have a special SRP for Central Visayas.
Alegado will also seek the help of Cebu Provincial Board Member Alex Binghay, the committee chairman for agriculture and livelihood, and Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale in coming up with a resolution urging the NFA to give Cebu a special SRP.
On Wednesday, Nov. 14, officials of Grecon and the Cebu Grains Traders Association will meet at the NFA 7 office to come up with a position paper that they will send to the NFA head office and to Piñol.
Reports said that retailers who will not comply with the SRP and do proper labeling will be apprehended. (from HBL of SuperBalita Cebu)