THE government was able to convince at least nine agrarian-reform beneficiaries’ organizations, or ARBOs, in Davao de Oro to agree to put a price ceiling on the rice they sell.
The Provincial Agrarian Reform Coordinating Committees (Parccom) announced the farmers signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) stating that they will sell their products at a “reasonable” price.
The move is expected to address the problem on rice inflation in the province, according to the Parccom, a unit of the Department of Agriculture mandated by law “to coordinate and monitor the implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) in the provincial level.” Many farmers, although the primary producers of food, often complain that they themselves cannot afford the skyrocketing cost of agricultural products and commodities, particularly rice, according to the Parccom.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the continued increase in international oil prices could have spillover effects, causing food to become expensive in the coming months. (See “Inflation slows to 4.6 percent in October, but rising oil prices to have spillover effects–PSA,” BusinessMirror, November 5, 2021)
The PSA announced last November 5 that inflation slowed to 4.6 percent in October from the 4.8 percent posted in September. Inflation averaged 4.5 percent in the January-to-October period.
The National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) said the government has put in place measures to prevent an increase in food prices.
“One of the government’s highest priorities amid the mobility restrictions is to ensure stable access to affordable food. The temporary importation of pork has worked in the National Capital Region. We need to leverage this momentum to allow unhampered supply to the wet markets and to all the regions,” Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick T. Chua said.
According to Parccom Acting Chairman Jerry F. Barayuga, officials of the ARBOs “are working hand-in-hand to ease the price of rice to benefit the affected poor consumers.”
DAR-Davao del Oro Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Jupiter S. Arandela Jr. said the DAR would continue to provide support services in the countryside “to empower farmer-beneficiaries and ARBOs.”