IN a bid to accelerate efforts in lowering rice prices and easing the financial burden on Filipino consumers, Quezon Rep. Mark Enverga, one of the chairmen of the House Murang Pagkain Supercommittee (Quinta Comm), announced Sunday that the panel is intensifying initiatives to drive rice costs down.

Enverga, who also chairs the House Committee on Agriculture, underscored the urgency of these measures, emphasizing that the panel remains committed to ensuring affordable and stable rice prices for every Filipino household.

“Alam natin na ang mataas na presyo ng bigas ay malaking pasanin sa bawat pamilyang Pilipino. Kaya’t hindi tayo titigil hangga’t hindi natin napapababa ang presyo nito at natitiyak na abot-kaya ito ng lahat,” Enverga declared.

Formed under House Resolution No. 254, authored by Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, Quinta Comm brings together five key legislative panels—Ways and Means, Trade and Industry, Agriculture and Food, Social Services, and the Special Committee on Food Security. It is tasked with curbing smuggling, hoarding, price manipulation, and hunger—factors that threaten food security and affordability.

Enverga acknowledged the progress made but stressed that more work remains. He noted that the government’s decision to sell National Food Authority (NFA) rice at P35 per kilo has provided much-needed relief for consumers. However, the committee aims to push prices even lower.

Citing reports that NFA rice is now available in Metro Manila at P33 to P35 per kilo, Enverga said government interventions are yielding results. Still, he warned that long-term affordability requires addressing structural inefficiencies in the rice market, particularly the dominance of cartels and price manipulation by certain traders.

The lawmaker pointed to Republic Act No. 12022, or the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act, signed in September 2024, as a game-changer. The law grants the government stronger legal tools to combat hoarding, price manipulation, and cartel activities, imposing severe penalties—including life imprisonment and hefty fines—on violators. He urged the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Enforcement Group to swiftly develop and enforce a framework to dismantle cartels and prevent price-fixing.

“Malinaw ang mensahe ng batas na ito: Hindi na natin palalampasin ang mga mapagsamantalang negosyante na nagpapahirap sa ating mga magsasaka at konsyumer. Dapat ngayon pa lang, umaksyon na ang enforcement group para matigil ang ganitong gawain,” Enverga said.

He also highlighted the need to enhance market competition by allowing more players in the rice importation sector. Despite the global decline in rice prices and the reduction of rice import tariffs under Executive Order No. 62—lowering duties from 35% to 15% in July 2024—local prices have not dropped as expected.

“Bumaba na ang presyo ng bigas sa pandaigdigang merkado, binawasan na rin ang taripa, pero mataas pa rin ang presyo dito sa atin. Kailangan nating tiyakin na ang mga benepisyong ito ay nararamdaman ng bawat Pilipino,” he said.

To prevent traders from inflating prices and profiting at consumers’ expense, Enverga urged the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to establish a Suggested Retail Price (SRP) formula for rice, similar to other essential commodities. Under this system, importers would be required to display the SRP on rice packaging, while the Bureau of Customs would assess tariffs based on declared purchase costs, wholesale prices, and SRP.

“Kapag may malinaw na SRP, hindi basta-basta mapapatungan ang presyo ng bigas. Kailangan nating tiyakin na ang presyo ay patas—mula sa pag-angkat hanggang sa pamilihan,” he said.

While acknowledging that rice importation is necessary to address immediate supply gaps, Enverga reiterated that the long-term goal must be self-sufficiency. He echoed Speaker Romualdez’s stance that lowering rice prices should go hand in hand with strengthening local production.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that the average farmgate price of dry palay was P20.69 per kilo in January 2025, slightly lower than the previous month but still 17.69% higher than the P17.58 per kilo average in June 2022, the last month of the Duterte administration.

Enverga said these price movements reflect the government’s balanced approach—stabilizing rice prices while ensuring farmers are not at a disadvantage.

The Quinta Comm, he assured, will not allow reliance on importation to become a permanent solution, stressing that boosting domestic rice production is key to long-term food security.

“Importante na may agarang solusyon, pero hindi natin pwedeng gawing habambuhay na sagot ang pag-angkat ng bigas. Kailangan nating tiyakin na habang pinapababa natin ang presyo para sa konsyumer, pinapalakas din natin ang produksyon ng lokal na palay. Hindi pwedeng isa lang ang makinabang—dapat sabay-sabay tayong umaangat,” he explained.

Enverga reaffirmed Quinta Comm’s commitment to implementing reforms that will create a sustainable and equitable rice market benefiting both consumers and local producers.

“Ang laban para sa murang bigas ay hindi natatapos sa pagbaba ng presyo ngayon. Kailangan nating tiyakin na magtatagal ang mga solusyong ito. Dapat sigurado tayo na ang mga hakbang na ginagawa natin ngayon ay pangmatagalan—hindi lang para sa eleksyon, kundi para sa kinabukasan ng bansa,” he said.

As rice prices continue to adjust, Enverga assured that Quinta Comm will remain vigilant in enforcing fair pricing, monitoring supply chains, and supporting Filipino farmers.

“Sa dulo ng lahat ng ito, dapat siguruhin natin na may pagkain sa bawat mesa ng ating mga kababayan,” he concluded.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Ryan Ponce Pacpaco