National Security Adviser Eduardo Año backed the looming declaration of a food security emergency to address the rising costs of rice in the country, acknowledging its importance to national security.
Año said food security is a major component of the 15-point National Security Agenda as outlined in the 2024 National Security Strategy (NSS) of the Marcos administration.
“As such, we support the declaration of a food security emergency by the Department of Agriculture (DA) to reduce the price of rice in the country,” he said.
Under Republic Act 12708 or the Agricultural Tariffication Law, the Secretary of Agriculture can declare a food security emergency if there is an extraordinary increase in the price of rice or if there is a rice shortage in the country.
While there is a sufficient supply of rice in the country, its price remains artificially high despite declining global rice costs and tariff reductions ordered by the President.
Año said the National Security Council will support the DA’s mandate to address high rice prices and called on the involved sectors to cooperate with the said endeavor.
Makati Mayor and senatorial aspirant Abby Binay, for her part, said the government should take more aggressive steps to catch and prosecute those involved in rice cartels and smuggling.
In a radio interview, Binay said the full force of the law should be imposed and perpetrators put behind bars to show the government’s determination to stop price manipulation.
The mayor also welcomed the declaration of a national food security emergency to help address the surge in retail prices of rice, but said it would offer only temporary relief if middlemen were not eliminated altogether.
The proposed declaration of a national food security emergency would enable the National Food Authority to buy rice stocks from local farmers and sell them at a lower price.
The DA also said it continues its strict monitoring of compliance with the P58 maximum suggested retail price (MSRP) for imported rice.
Reports indicate strong adherence in markets such as Las Piñas, Marulas, Mandaluyong, Marikina, Pasig, Malabon, and others. However, non-compliance was noted at the Guadalupe Commercial Complex and Pasay Public Market, where prices of P59 and P60 were observed, respectively.
The DA has observed market prices as low as P51, with most falling between P51 and P57. As of present, imported premium rice is at P55/kg, P48/kg for imported well-milled rice, and P40 for imported regular-milled rice.
Discussions are also underway with supermarkets, where rice prices are typically higher due to added convenience for shoppers.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “NSA favors imminent food security emergency.”