Bongbong rules out rice crisis
Published on: Thursday, April 20, 2023
By: ABS CBN News
A market vendor waits for customers in front of their rice and grains store inside public market in Quezon City.
MANILA: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Wednesday he does not expect a rice crisis to happen in the country in the coming lean months, contrary to the warning of a farmers group of a repeat of the problem five years ago.“No. I don’t. There is a chance na ninipis talaga ‘yung supply because nga nung magkasabay-sabay ‘yan. So we are watching and waiting to see what the production levels are going to be after the last planting season before the harvest, for the upcoming harvest and what will be… Basta’t nag-harvest na tayo. Pagka-umani na tayo, wala ng problema sa supply,” Marcos said in an interview in Bulacan.
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The Federation of Free Farmers earlier said that the country could experience a deficiency in the supply of rice during the lean months of July to September.
“Basta’t things — all things remain in equal, we are, we have enough supply and that we’ll be able to keep the prices stable.”
The President, however, noted that there may be a need to import rice to ensure that there is enough supply of the staple before the harvest season.
“It is in the dry part where we are waiting for the last planting to be harvested. So ‘yun ang tinitingnan natin. We may have to import. So that’s — we’re keeping that option open,” he said.
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Last April 17, the Department of Agriculture (DA) confirmed that the National Food Authority (NFA) will no longer import rice for its buffer stock.
DA Undersecretary Mercedita Sombilla told media that they advised the NFA to instead source rice from local farmers.
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Marcos said the government is looking for ways to increase the country’s buffer stock without affecting the market price of rice.
He said that according to law, the NFA is only allowed to buy stocks from local producers.
“Ngayon, kung sasabay tayo sa harvest season na bumili, ang NFA, tataas ang presyo ng bigas. Kaya’t ‘yun ang pinoproblema ngayon namin. Paano natin gagawin ‘yun? Saan natin kukunin ‘yung pang-replenish doon sa NFA,” Marcos said.
“We have to have that buffer stock and that’s the problem that we are wrestling with now dahil talagang binabantayan natin ang mga presyo ng mga agricultural commodities. Siyempre, lalong-lalo na ang bigas.”
Last April 13, Marcos said the country has enough rice supply amid reports that rice prices may increase by P5 per kilo.
Meanwhile, the construction of 1.2-M housing units is underway.
President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. on Wednesday said his administration is currently building 1.2 million housing units, which are part of the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Housing (4PH) program.
The 4PH program aims to build 1 million housing units each year to address the country’s housing backlog.
“Tintukso ko si Secretary Jerry [Acuzar]. Sabi ko sa kanya: O, sa susunod naman, dalhin mo kami doon sa mga —- may naitayo na. Kasi baka sasabihin nila panay ribbon cutting natin, tapos wala ng nangyari,” Marcos said in a chance interview with reporters.
“So sabi ko, that’s the next part. Pagka nagsimula ng umaakyat, iinspeksyunin natin para makita naman na talagang gumagalaw,” he added.
The President said many Filipinos are interested to get housing units, as supposedly indicated by new members of Pag-IBIG.
“All of these things are indicative na patuloy talaga ang pag-supply ng bahay at talagang may market. Tama nga na tinugunan natin itong problemang housing na ito,” he said.
Earlier in the day, Marcos launched several housing projects in various towns in Bulacan, starting in San Jose Del Monte.
The project involves 1,890 housing units, he said.
“Sa 6 na bayan ng Bulacan, sabay-sabay po nating sinisimulan ang construction ng Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino housing project ng pamahalaan... ‘Yung iba, naka-livestream at nanonood sa atin, may groundbreaking pinagsabay-sabay natin,” Marcos said.
He also led the groundbreaking of a vertical housing project in San Rafael.
“Sabay-sabay nating sinisimulan ang pagpapatayo ng Pambansang Pabahay… sa 6 na bayan sa lalawigan ng Bulacan,” Marcos said in his speech.
“Hindi na malayo ang posibilidad na makamtan ang pangarap ng libu-libong Bulakenyo para makamtan ang pagkakaroon ng maayos at disenteng pabahay,” he said.
The soon-to-rise housing complex in San Rafael is a 7-hectare property that will be called San Rafael Heights Development Project, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) said in a statement.
At least 3,920 condominium units will be built initially in Barangay Caingin, it said.
“Napakalaking bagay na kasama sa pabahay ay may ginagawa ring plano para sa city planning,” Marcos told the residents.
“Hindi naman pupuwedeng magpapatayo tayo ng pabahay na wala namang pagsisimbahan, walang eskuwelahan para sa mga bata, walang palengke para sa pagsha-shopping,” he said.
“Hindi magtatagal ay ito ay magiging isang tunay na komunidad na magkakaroon ng mga pasilitasyon para sa pangkalusugan, pangkabuhayan at iba pa,” he added.
The five other 4PH sites in Bulacan will be constructed in San Rafael, Pulilan, Pandi, Guiguinto and Malolos, said Marcos.
There are already 20 localities covered by the 4PH program, he said.
“Sana maging inspirasyon ito sa mga nagsusumikap na maitaguyod ang kanilang pamilya,” the president said.
“Kung tayo ay magtutulungan — pamahalaan at mamamayan — ito ay kayang kaya natin.”
Marcos earlier said that his administration’s bid to construct millions of housing units by the end of his term in 2028 is meant to address the Philippines’ housing backlog that is estimated at 6 million units.
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