'Rice price crisis, not food crisis'

"Mukhang walang krisis sa bigas. Pinagloloko lamang tayo," ang bukang bibig ng marami. Sa katunayan, kahit saan ka magpunta, ang daming supply ng bigas sa palengke, sa tindahan, supermarket at boom ang ani ng mga magsasaka sa Central Luzon, Northern Luzon, Visaya at Kamindanaoan. Kaya lang, mahal ang presyo, may kumita na naman. Sabi ng kakilala kong taga Gapan, Nueva Ecija, “hindi totoong may krisis sa bigas,” dagdag pa niya, “ang daming inani at supply ngayon, umaapaw ang mga bodega / kamalig.” (Editorial Cartoon: www.kingdomofjesuschrist.org/2/publication/pi...)

Mula sa total denial noong nakaraang buwan, itinatangging may krisis sa bigas, biglang nag-iba ang posisyon, nagbaligtaran ang mga galamay ni Ate Glo. Ang hinala ng marami, ginagamit ang krisis sa bigas sa kapakinabangan (propagandang iniuugnay sa global crisis) ng administrasyong Arroyo. Ang malungkot, ang krisis sa bigas ang pampa-POGI ng Malakanyang upang makapagmaniubra sa pulitika, kung makaka-tiempo, bigyang katwiran ang diklerasyon ng “emergency power,” kastiguhin ang kaaway/oposisyon, muling buhayin ang CHA CHA, siguruhing maililibing ang sistemang presidential tungo sa PARLIAMENTARYO at magtagal sa pwesto lagpas sa 2010 si Ate Glo.

Ang KATOTOHANAN, gamumo na lamang ang PURCHASING POWER, kawalan ng trabaho't kawalang pambili ng mamamayang Pinoy. Ang nagdudumilat na katotohanan, nagpapatuloy ang talamak na katiwalian, pangungurakot (NFA, DA, NIA) sa administrasyong Arroyo at isa pang totoo, kailanma'y hindi umunlad (7.3% GDP growth rate) ang ekonomya ng bansa. - doy

GLOBAL PROBLEM
RP: 'Rice price crisis, not food crisis'
By Amy R. Remo
Philippine Daily Inquire
First Posted 00:40:00 04/12/2008






LOS BAÑOS, Laguna--The Philippines is calling on the international community to start focusing on solutions to what is being described as a "rice price crisis" in countries worldwide.
At a press briefing Friday, Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap quoted M. Syeduzzaman, chair of BOC Bangladesh Ltd., Bangladesh Rice Foundation, as saying that "global rice prices will not abate within the next 18 to 24 months." (Photo: www.irrawaddy.org/articlefiles/10963-19mar_2.jpg; www.everyculture.com/images/ctc_03_img0875.jpg; a.abcnews.com/images/International/d8c06d9e-5...; www.newsflash.org/2004/02/pictures/00004667.jpg ; newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/44576000/jpg/_...)

Yap pointed out that "we're grappling [with] the same situation." He said it was the "common consensus" of International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) board members that "we're looking at firm prices within the next 18 to 24 months."
But he declined to say whether prices would firm up to current levels or would further increase within the period. He said it would be speculative on his part to give "price forecasts."

"We don't have a food crisis but, rather, a rice price crisis," Yap said. "All of us are looking for innovative solutions in our countries--how to address not only the issue of supply but also the issue of prices, how to [ensure] that poor families can eat." (Photo: Mahabang pila sa Commonweath Av, "Rice crisis worsening" http://www.abante-tonite.com/issue/apr1108/index.htm)
Yap quoted IRRI director general Robert Zeigler as saying that "in no way should farmers be blamed for the current rice situation."
"What we want to do is encourage Filipino farmers to produce more, and you don't do that by imposing an artificial pricing mechanism to control their profit. You have to give them a signal that it pays to produce food," Zeigler said.

Related Story:
What rice crisis? by Honesto General
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 02:28:00 04/23/2008
http://business.inquirer.net/money/columns/view/20080423-132112/What-rice-crisis
RP's rice supply remains 'comfortable' by Carmela Fonbuena
abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryID=115832
Price control at emergency power
http://doycinco.blogspot.com/2008/04/price-control-at-emergency-power.html
Palay farmgate prices going down as traders stop buying by Amy R. Remo
April 23, 2008 21:45:00
http://www.inquirer.net/specialfeatures/riceproblem/view.php?db=1&article=20080423-132267