Home NATIONWIDE Ex-DA chief: Importers, wholesalers tutukan sa rice price issue

Ex-DA chief: Importers, wholesalers tutukan sa rice price issue

MANILA, Philippines- Dapat ilipat ng pamahalaan ang atensyon nito mula sa rice retailers sa importers at wholesalers, ayon kay dating Department of Agriculture (DA) secretary Leonardo Montemayor nitong Linggo.

Binatikos ni Montemayor ang pagpapatupad ng mga polisiya na tila tina-target ang retailers habang pinapayagan ang major players sa importation at wholesale sector na anihin ang inilirawan niya bilang “windfall profits.”

“Why is government apparently focusing on the retailers’ end of the marketing chain instead of the importers-wholesalers component?” tanong ni Montemayor.

Binanggit niya na ibinaba ng Executive Order (EO) No. 62, ipinalabas ni Pangulong Marcos noong June 20, ang rice tariff rates mula 35 percent sa 15 percent sa pagsisikap tungo sa mas maraming imports at mas mababang presyo para sa consumers ng ₱5 hanggang ₱7 kada kilo.

Subalit, sinabi ni Montemayor na iniulat ng Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) at ng National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) na hindi naabot ng EO ang mga layunin nito.

“Government has allowed the less than 20 big players reportedly cornering the bulk of imports to pocket around ₱13.5 billion in tariff savings, which are tantamount to ‘windfall profits,’” giit niya.

Simula January 20, nakatakdang ipatupad ng DA ang maximum suggested retail price (MSRP) na ₱58 per kilo para sa imported rice upang protektahan ang consumers. Subalit, kinuwestiyon ni Montemayor kung bakit hindi ipinatutupad ang parehong panukala sa importers at wholesalers.

“By the same token, shouldn’t there be a maximum suggested imported rice profit (MSIRP) for importers and wholesalers?” aniya.

“Profiteering by a relatively few importers and wholesalers should be easier to deter and prosecute, compared to running after tens of thousands of small retailers – whose daily sales and margins are dependent on their suppliers’ deliveries and corresponding charges,” giit ni Montemayor. RNT/SA