P20/kilo rice not yet possible, says DA chief

MANILA, Philippines — Achieving the “aspiration” for rice at P20 per kilo is not possible at this time, but the government will work on bringing down prices to affordable levels for consumers, newly installed Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said yesterday.

At a briefing, Laurel said lowering the retail price of rice to the level promised by President Marcos during the election campaign is challenging, given the uncertainties in the world market.

“The P20 per kilo was an aspiration. The problem [is] we are now at a 15-year high [in] world market [prices]. What was previously at $230 per ton in Vietnam, today it’s $700 per ton. Today, it is not possible,” he said, citing challenges that include climate change, El Niño and geopolitical tensions overseas.

“The problem around the world is so complicated. There’s climate change, El Niño is now here and it will continue until the middle of next year. Anything can happen. We don’t know when there will be another war in other places, and we don’t know if a ship will get stuck in the Suez Canal,” Laurel said.

However, the department chief did not discount the fact that lowering prices is still possible with the modernization of agriculture. “It is possible to lower the price. But we need to have our silos, we have to have buffer stock. And we have to change some laws, I believe,” Laurel said.

At a congressional budget hearing last August, DA officials admitted that the P20-per-kilo rice promise is not achievable in the next two years. They cited inadequate irrigation projects, conversion of rice lands into subdivisions and not enough market roads and equipment as challenges to meet the aspirational target.

Laurel has also refuted criticisms that his appointment will benefit his businesses and was a “payback” for his significant contribution to President Marcos’ campaign.

“Definitely there’s no payback. As I said, this is a sacrifice. This is for the country,” the newly appointed agriculture chief said at a press briefing yesterday.

Moreover, Laurel said his appointment would not cause any conflict of interest as he has divested from Frabelle Fishing Corp.

“Basically, I’ve already divested. I have no more interests in all the companies I used to own… The DA is a full-time job. I have no time to do anything else,” he said.

Protests greet Laurel

Protests greeted the first day in office of Laurel after members of fishers’ group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) picketed outside the Department of Agriculture main office in Quezon City.

“This (protest) is our way to formally welcome the new DA secretary. We want to show our sentiments where we believe that we cannot expect from Secretary Francisco Laurel if our basis is his background as a big businessman involved in the fishery sector,” Pamalakaya vice chair Ronnel Arambulo said.

“This has a conflict of interest because of his business. He will just use his position at the Department of Agriculture to advance the interest of his business,” Arambulo said.

According to Arambulo, fishers and farmers will not benefit from the appointment of Laurel.

However, Pamalakaya said it is willing to meet with Laurel in case he initiates a consultation with stakeholders.

The group also emphasized the need to remain “extra vigilant” with the appointment of Laurel due to his “extensive experience in the fishing industry and commercial ventures.”

“There will always be a catch when a business tycoon is appointed in a government position,” Arambulo said.

He added that small fisherfolk across the country are well-acquainted with Laurel’s company, Frabelle, which was “previously associated with destructive trawling methods, depleting fish stocks and damaging coral reefs within municipal waters.”

“We will definitely keep an eye on Agriculture Secretary Tiu-Laurel Jr., and will not allow (him) to use his crucial post to advance business agenda, instead of the needed public service,” Arambulo said.

For their part, an autonomous region in the south on Monday gave the newly appointed agriculture secretary a vote of confidence, certain he will complement efforts to empower the agriculture and fishery sectors in the Bangsamoro provinces.

Two members of the 80-seat Bangsamoro regional parliament, lawyer Hadji Nabil Tan and physician-ophthalmologist Kadil Sinolinding Jr., said they are certain that Laurel will be an efficient conduit of Malacañang to the fishery and agriculture sectors in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Basilan Gov. Jim Salliman and his counterpart in Lanao del Sur, Mamintal Adiong Jr., also welcomed the appointment of Laurel.

Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Mendoza said she is happy with the appointment of Laurel as a full-fledged agriculture secretary. — Bella Cariaso, John Unson, Mark Ernest Villeza