In a statement, Speaker Martin Romualdez praised the Department of Agriculture's (DA) decision to set the National Food Authority (NFA) rice price at P35 per kilogram, highlighting its positive impact on food security for Filipinos. While acknowledging the importance of affordable rice for consumers, Romualdez emphasized the need for fair compensation for farmers to sustain local production. He urged the government to explore subsidies and support programs to ensure farmers' well-being and called for close coordination between the DA, NFA, and Congress to prevent any negative consequences for local rice farmers.
Speaker Martin Romualdez lauded the Department of Agriculture's (DA) decision to set the National Food Authority (NFA) rice price at P35 per kilogram on Wednesday, emphasizing its contribution to food security for Filipinos. However, Romualdez stressed the need for the government to guarantee fair income for farmers to maintain local rice production. 'Ensuring affordable rice for our consumers is crucial,' stated the Speaker.
'Simultaneously, we must ensure our farmers receive fair compensation for their diligent efforts.' Romualdez underscored the importance of striking a balance between consumer needs and farmer welfare, asserting its significance for the benefit of all parties involved. 'The ideal scenario is to maintain a high farmgate price that adequately compensates our farmers while ensuring the rice price in the market remains affordable for consumers,' he explained in Tagalog. He pledged close monitoring of the policy's implementation and expressed the Lower House's readiness to assess the need for additional government interventions to sustain it. 'We will carefully observe how this policy unfolds and determine if further government interventions are necessary to ensure its sustainability,' he noted. Romualdez highlighted the potential role of subsidies and government support programs, stating, 'The Lower House is prepared to investigate the feasibility of subsidy or targeted assistance programs to guarantee that our farmers do not incur losses while rice remains accessible to the public.' Romualdez also called for robust collaboration between the DA, NFA, and lawmakers to prevent any negative impact on local rice farmers. 'I urge the Department of Agriculture and the National Food Authority to work closely with Congress to ensure this policy does not inadvertently discourage local rice production,' he emphasized. 'The ultimate objective is food security - one that benefits both farmers and consumers.' Romualdez further stressed the importance of continuous policy assessment and encouraged open dialogue among stakeholders in the agricultural sector. He reaffirmed Congress's willingness to intervene if adjustments are deemed necessary. 'We are dedicated to finding solutions that safeguard the well-being of our farmers while guaranteeing every Filipino's access to affordable rice,' Romualdez concluded
FOOD SECURITY AGRICULTURAL POLICY FARMER SUPPORT RICE PRICE NATIONAL FOOD AUTHORITY
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