ROXAS PUSHES AFFORDABLE PRICES OF RICE, BREAD, OTHER BASIC GOODS FOR ALL

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas said there should be no reason why the government cannot exert all effort to keep prices of basic goods down so that every Filipino could live more comfortably.

Roxas, chair of the Senate Committee on Trade and Commerce, criticized the pullout from stores of National Food Authority (NFA) rice, which at P18.25/kilo and subsidized by the government is lower than the regular P35/kilo cost, has helped families cope with the hike in world market prices. "Nagkaloko-loko dahilan sa tinanggal na itong P18.25/kilo na NFA rice sa palengke. Doon na lang daw sa mga may card ng NFA. E limitado lang yung mga card - iyon ang nirereklamo ng ating mga kababayan," he said.

"Hindi ko ito maunawaan dahilan sa klarong-klaro na kulang yung imbentaryo natin ng bigas sa bansa natin. Kaya dapat magkaroon tayo ng isang malinaw na plano para mapunan itong kakulangan," he said, noting the 2-million metric ton shortage of rice which has been imported ever since.

He also disputed the idea that the rice crisis was over, and called on the government to look for longer-term solutions. "Nakaangkat sila ngayong taon. Ngunit paano na sa susunod na taon, at sa susunod nito? Mas mabuti pa kung manggaling dito mismo mula sa ating magsasaka at sa ating taniman ang ating supply ng bigas. Bakit pa natin ibabayad iyan sa magsasaka ng Thailand at Vietnam?" the Ilonggo senator said.

Roxas said it wasn't only in rice supply that the country is facing problems, as he noted that breadmakers were looking at increasing the prices of loafs of bread, which is now at P55 a loaf, and pan de sal, which is now P3.50 a piece, due to high prices of flour. A 25-kilo bag of hard flour now costs P980, from P910 just last April. This, despite a drop in prices of wheat in the world market.

"Ang gamot diyan sa pagtaas ng presyo ng bigas, tinapay, sardinas, at iba pa, ay yung kamay na bakal ng gobyerno, na gamitin niya ito laban sa mga nagsasamantala. Kung talagang nagmamahal naman itong mga presyo, gusto lang namang makasiguro ang ating mga kababayan na hindi tayo pinagsasamantalahan," he said.