Quinta Comm to help in drive to lower food prices
A House leader vowed that the House of Representatives, particularly the House Murang Pagkain Supercommittee (Quinta Comm), will help in the administration’s drive to lower the cost of rice and other basic commodities.
Quezon Representative Mark Enverga, chairman of the House Committee on Food and 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 said in a statement.
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.
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 percent to 15 percent 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 percent 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 lawmaker assured that the Quinta Comm will not allow reliance on importation to become a permanent solution, stressing that boosting domestic rice production is key to long-term food security.
He reaffirmed Quinta Comm’s commitment to implementing reforms that will create a sustainable and equitable rice market benefiting both consumers and local producers.
