Members of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry will recommend a lower importation cost of rice to stabilize prices and make the staple more affordable to the consuming public.
The lower import cost will be one of the resolutions that the PCCI is set to submit to President Rodrigo Duterte during the upcoming 45th Philippine Business Conference and Expo on October 16 and 17 at the Manila Hotel.
The group will also recommend the creation of a bilateral partnership with Myanmar for guaranteed rice supply to the Philippines and call on the Agriculture and Trade departments, the Sugar Regulatory Administration and the National Economic and Development Authority to rationalize sugar imports.
The PCCI said the importation of sugar should be based on a careful analysis of projected production against domestic demand and done in consultation with industry stakeholders.
It will urge the SRA to take the leadership role in ensuring the development of the sugarcane industry and optimizing the use of the annual P2-billion fund allotted for the industry as stated under the Sugar Industry Development Act.