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DA declares food security emergency

MANILA, Philippines — The country has been placed under a food security emergency as measures set in place by the government to pull down rice prices have failed.

Citing an “extraordinary increase in rice prices,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. issued yesterday Department Circular No. 3 formally declaring a food security emergency, based on a resolution of the 10-member National Price Coordinating Council (NPCC).

He said that under the newly enacted Republic Act 12078 or the Agricultural Tariffication Act, the secretary of the Department of Agriculture – upon the recommendation of the NPCC – may declare a food security emergency to address supply shortages or extraordinary increases in rice prices.

“On the basis of the recommendations (of the NPCC), the secretary hereby resolves to declare a food security emergency on rice due to extraordinary increase in prices,” Tiu Laurel said in his department circular.

Aside from the DA, members of the NPCC include secretaries of the Departments of Trade and Industry, Health, the Interior and Local Government, Environment and Natural Resources, Justice, Energy and Transportation as well as the National Economic and Development Authority.

“The state of food security emergency shall remain in force and effect until lifted or withdrawn by the secretary,” Tiu Laurel said.

He said that NPPC Resolution No. 01 cited the report of the Philippine Statistics Authority that rice inflation in July 2023 reached 4.2 percent, exceeding the upper limit of the four percent food inflation target under the Philippine Development Plan 2024-2028.

Tiu Laurel received the NPCC resolution on Jan. 30.

He said rice inflation further increased, reaching 17.9 percent in September 2023.

“The (NPCC) resolution determined that rice prices remain elevated, emphasizing that in December 2024, the price levels of regular milled rice and well-milled rice were respectively 19 percent and 20 percent higher compared to the period before the price spikes in July 2023,” Tiu Laurel noted.

He said the NPCC has resolved to adopt a formula for determining extraordinary price increases.

“There is an extraordinary increase in the price of rice when the

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