The price of rice was even higher in August 2024 compared to January 2024 when 35% tariff for imports was in effect, said agricultural groups on Friday.
Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) and the Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) once again slammed the tariff cut as an ineffective measure in bringing down prices, a position they held since NEDA opened the proposal several months ago.
"If you compare prices ng August 2024, nasa P55.56 per kilo [on average]. Nung January, nasa P54. It's higher than January to March when tariff was in 35%," said Raul Montemayor of the FFF.
PH rice stocks increase in June
(If you compare prices in August 2024, it's at P55.56 per kilo on average. Last January, it's just at P54.)
The groups acknowledge that there was a small decrease in the price of rice since June, amounting to a 40 centavo decrease in a period of three months.
Still, they asserted this is very far from the promise of up to P7 reduction per kilo of rice when the tariff cut was implemented.
"Malayo po sa pitong piso na sinasabi kasi from August last year to August this year, tumaas pa nga ng P8 per kilo," said former agriculture secretary Leonardo Montemayor.
(This is very far from the promise that rice prices will be down by 7 pesos per kilo when the tariff cut takes effect. Comparing it to last year, price of rice even went up by 8 pesos.)
"Walang koneksyon based on the data," said his brother Raul Montemayor.
(There is no connection based on the data.)
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The groups held a press conference a day after the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) announced that rice inflation slowed down in August, effectively lowering the over-all inflation rate for the month.
Both SINAG and FFF contested this idea, saying the lower inflation rate cannot be attributed to Executive Order 62, which lowered the tariff on imported rice.
In an earlier interview, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said the eventual lowering of rice prices due to lower tariffs may be felt by mid October, when old stocks of rice are used up by traders and retailers.
Rice to be cheaper by P5 per kilo with tariff cut: Recto
"I hope PSA and NEDA will listen to us napakaliit ng pagbaba ng presyo ng bigas," Leonardo Montemayor said.
(I hope PSA and NEDA will listen to us, the decreases in price of rice has been so low.)
The groups have earlier asked the Supreme Court to implement a Temporary Restraining Order on EO62. No action has been undertaken by the SC.
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