AS 2025 approaches, the leadership of the House of Representatives made a declaration: the government’s focus on food security and affordability will take center stage, and no profiteer, smuggler, or manipulator will escape accountability while offering remedies for high electricity costs. The lower chamber, through its Murang Pagkain Supercommittee, and the newly created Murang Kuryente Supercommittee will go “full blast” against profiteers this coming year. Speaker Ferdinand Martin G.
Romualdez said these super committees’ objectives are to find solutions to further reduce the prices of rice and other essential goods. The Murang Pagkain Supercommittee seeks to address food affordability, accessibility, and safety while also examining the effects of agricultural practices on food production and insecurity. “At the start of the year, we will go full blast on the issue, ensuring that food security is achieved and quality rice is affordable throughout the country. We will make sure the prices of basic commodities are stable, and we will also address the affordability or cost of power,” Romualdez said. Romualdez emphasized that food security is not only a government priority but also a national obligation. He cited the reduction of tariffs on imported rice from 35 percent to 15 percent as a bold move to ease the burden on consumers. However, he raised critical questions about why prices remain high despite adequate supply. “The government is doing everything. As you know, we recently reduced the tariff on imported rice from 35 percent to 15 percent. There’s a significant amount of supply stored, yet the prices remain high. That’s what we’re trying to figure out. Why, even now, haven’t rice prices come down?” he emphasized. According to Romualdez, the lower chamber will further uncover significant cases of large-scale smuggling of agricultural products, manipulation of rice prices by traders, and the creation of artificial shortages of ric
FOOD SECURITY AFFORDABILITY PROFITEERING SMUGGLING ELECTRICITY COSTS
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