MANILA, Philippines – Nagpahayag ng suporta si National Security Adviser Eduardo Año nitong Martes, Enero 21 sa nalalapit na deklarasyon ng food security emergency sa bigas para tugunan ang tumataas na presyo nito.
Sa pahayag, iginiit ni Año na ang food security ng bansa ay ”national security interest,” at isa ito sa major component ng 15-point National Security Agenda ng administrasyong Marcos batay sa 2023 National Security Policy.
”While there is sufficient supply of rice in the country, the price of rice, however, remains artificially high despite declining global rice costs and tariff reductions ordered by the President. Since rice is the country’s staple food, artificially high prices directly impact the lives of all Filipinos,” sinabi ni Año.
”The Department of Agriculture therefore is well within its authority to effectively regulate and reduce the price to protect the interests of the public. We therefore support this measure by the DA to address high rice prices,” dagdag pa niya, na tinukoy ang Republic Act No. 12708.
Sinabi ng NSA na ang profiteering mula sa food security emergency, pagpolitika sa mga isyu paara sa partisan political interest, at iba pang malicious activities ay magdudulot ng hindi maganda sa publiko.
”Now is not the time for more profits. Now is the time to put the country first. Let us all remain committed to this effort with the same spirit and dedication we have always shown to bolster our collective security as a nation,” ani Año.
Inaasahang idedeklara ng DA ang food security emergency sa bigas bukas, Enero 22.
Ito ay kasunod ng pag-apruba ng National Price Coordinating Council sa resolusyon na humihimok sa DA na ideklara ang food security emergency. RNT/JGC