THE rising oil prices and current weather disturbances could affect rice prices further, an official from the Department of Agriculture-Davao Region (DA-Davao) said.
DA-Davao senior agriculturist Agnes Cecilia Roble said both factors might influence rice prices as a part of a “natural chain reaction”.
“Kung mosulti jud ta ani (If we say), oil price hike, it will naturally create a chain reaction of our prices, not only for the rice but for other commodities as well, so usa na siya ka factor (that’s one of the factors),” Roble said during the AgriBiz Media Forum on August 28 at SM Lanang Premier.
“Sa mga upcoming typhoons, right now in Region 2 [affecting there is] Typhoon Goring, naa na pod siya, so mao na siya (Typhoon Goring is already there and that is) another factor,” the official added.
Roble said typhoons can also affect rice production, and the Davao Region imports rice from Cagayan Valley, which was greatly affected by the recent typhoons.
As of August 24, DA-Davao's monitoring showed that the average prices per kilogram: premium rice at P56/kg, well-milled rice at P52/kg, regular milled rice at P50/kg, and imported well-milled rice at P56/kg.
But DA-Davao assures anew that there is no shortage of rice supply nor reported hoarding rice incidents in the region. However, they also added that despite the recent calamities, no price freeze will be implemented.
“Dili jud ta maka-implement og suggested retail price (SRP) unless gi-declare sa President nga dunay mga kalamidad, mga circumstances or mga emergencies, ing-ana ang pag-declare sa SRP (We cannot implement a suggested retail price (SRP) unless the President declares that there are calamities, circumstances, or emergencies. That's how the declaration of SRP is done),” Roble said.
However, Roble said once the harvest time commences around September, expect rice prices to dip or get back to their “normal level”. ICE