Following the declaration of a food security emergency, former Senator Kiko Pangilinan on Tuesday said the national government should go after smugglers and unscrupulous businessmen to address the high prices of rice products in the country.
“Kung declaration lang at hindi hahabulin ang mga nagsasamantala, hindi binabantayan itong sistema ng pag-import, hindi sasampahan ng kaso ang mga nagsasamantalang trader, declaration lang ‘yan,” Pangilinan told Super Radyo dzBB’s Ikaw Na Ba? The Senatorial Interviews.
(If they will just declare and will not go after the erring individuals, they will not safeguard the importation system and will not file charges against unscrupulous traders, then that is just a declaration.)
“If they want to fix this, they have to go after itong mga nanamantala at mga kasabwat sa gobyerno,” he added.
(If they want to fix this, they have to go after the unscrupulous individuals and their accomplices in the government.)
Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. earlier said the declaration of a food security emergency allows the release of 300,000 metric tons of rice buffer stocks of the National Food Authority (NFA).
The move is targeted to stabilize rice prices and ensure its accessibility to Filipino consumers.
Pangilinan said it should be one of the interventions, but the government should likewise hold erring individuals such as traders, smugglers, and cartels accountable. He also cited Republic Act No. 11321 or the Sagip Saka Law, which he authored, in boosting the country’s rice production, saying it provides assistance to farmers and encourages them to continue producing food supply.
“Ang Sagip Saka Act, hindi lang NFA di lang ang pupwede bumili ng palay sa magsasaka, lahat ng ahensya ng gobyerno pwedeng bumili wala pa ngang public bidding. Ibig sabihin, direktang binibili, walang public bidding, sa tamang presyo,” said Pangilinan.
(Under the Sagip Saka Act, all government agencies may buy rice from farmers even without public bidding. This means the rice products will be sold at the right pricing.)
“Pag ginawa ng gobyerno ‘yan, mas mae-enganyo ang ating mga magsasaka na magtanim nang mas marami dahil alam nilang bibilhin sa tamang presyo at dadami ang supply ng bigas dahil ang government, both national and local, ang pinakamalaking buyer ng bigas,” he added.
(If they will enforce this, it will encourage farmers to continue rice farming.)
Pangilinan was a senator from 2001 to 2013 and 2016 to 2022. He was also appointed Cabinet Secretary for Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Agricultural Modernization under the Office of the President from May 2014 to September 2015.
Meanwhile, the former legislator called for a higher budget for mass transportation system projects and additional cash subsidies for public utility drivers. He also expressed support for the proposed legislated wage hike.
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