PHL to have enough rice stocks beyond El Niño period—Marcos

EVEN with a “low” rice production scenario in the next harvest season, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said the country will still have sufficient stocks of the food staple to last beyond the El Niño phenomenon next year.

He made the assurance after the Department of Agriculture (DA) reported on its rice supply projections this year, when he met with the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) and the Philippine Rice infrastructure, education, health, and even direct fi nancial assistance to the poor and other vulnerable sectors,” the House leader said. us, House members would like to see increased allocations for these services and pro-poor programs, he added.

Strict

ACCORDING to Co, strict rules and procedures governing the conduct of budget briefi ngs or hear-

Stakeholders Movement (PRISM) in Malacañang last Tuesday.

During the meeting, DA Undersecretary Mercedita A. Sombilla said the even with the “low” scenario with the assumption that ings will be implemented during the briefi ngs.

“ ese rules are designed to enhance transparency, encourage active participation from stakeholders, and foster rigorous scrutiny of budgetary allocations and expenditures,” said Co.

“By implementing comprehensive rules and procedures, the committee seeks to maximize the impact of every allocated peso and uphold the utmost accountability rice production will remain the same, they expect the ending stock for 2023 at 1.96 million metric tons (MMT), which can last for 52 days. She also noted the Philippine Statistics Authority came out with an even better scenario, wherein the ending stock is projected at 2.12 MMT, to last for 57 days. e next harvest season for palay (unhusked rice) will be from September to November.

“ e rice situation is manageable and stable. ere is enough rice for the Philippines up to and after the El Niño next year,” the President said. is was reiterated by PRISM lead convenor Rowena del Rosario-Sadicon.

“We don’t need to panic for anything else. Let us remain calm. It’s in budget implementation,” said the lawmaker.

Co also underscored the critical and pressing need for the immediate consideration and passage of the P5.768 trillion 2024 proposed budget. An executive meeting was held on August 8 to assure the timely passage of the budget.

In light of the critical role of the proposed budget in realizing the nation’s goals, Co emphasized the need for a thorough examination of the budget’s provisions.

“So, as we consider the FY 2024 budget proposal, let us scrutinize it with an open mind and innovative approach toward greater transparency and better implementation of programs and projects under the 8-Point Socio-Economic Agenda to achieve a more sustainable and inclusive economy,” he said.

“As we embark on this important task, let us be guided by our shared mission and commitment to uplift the lives and well-being of the citizens, society, and the nation, towards a better and brighter future for the Philippines,” he added.

Calendar

TO facilitate the efficient approval

‘SIERRA MADRE’ STAYS AT AYUNGIN–MARCOS

very important that we are one in our objective to be positive on this. We have sufficient rice [supply],” Sadicon said partly in Filipino after their meeting with President.

DA, however, earlier said it will still encourage the private sector to import 1.3 MMT volume of rice to ensure the country will have enough food supplies during emergencies this year.

Based on the forecast of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), El Niño will bring lower rainfall until the fi rst quarter of 2024.

Marcos met with rice stakeholders to ensure the country will not suffer a rice shortage during the said period.

process, Co said the committee has approved the budget calendar for the deliberation and approval of the fi scal year 2024 national budget.

“ is well-structured calendar aims to streamline the deliberation process, ensuring timely consideration of the proposed budget to address the pressing needs of the nation promptly,” said Co.

“Our journey continues, and together, we will face these new challenges and build upon the foundation of economic transformation embodied in the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028,” Co added.

Calendar

THE budget hearings will start with a briefi ng from the Development Budget Coordination Committee on ursday.

Next week—from August 14 to August 17—agencies that will defend their allocations are: Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Department of Tourism, Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Energy, Energy Regulatory Commission, Civil Service Com- e PCG ships were escorting indigenous boats carrying food, water, fuel and other supplies to BRP Sierra Madre. e Philippine military deliberately grounded the vessel in 1999 to reinforce the country’s territorial claims in the West Philippine Sea. Samuel P. Medenilla mission, Department of Agrarian Reform, and Department of Social Welfare and Development. ployed but in mostly part-time capacity—declined to 3.543 million in June. is is a contraction of 10.1 percent or 398,000 compared to June 2022 and a decline of 3.9 percent or 143,000 versus May 2023. e PSA noted that among those with jobs, those who held elementary occupations accounted for a large chunk. e top four job-creating sub sectors are all among the five lowest-paying subsectors in the economy. ey estimated a 612,000 in- crease in accommodation and food service activities or an average daily basic pay (ADBP) of P432 in 2022 or 457,000 increase in agriculture and forestry or P300.

Huang Xilian to demand that the Chinese Coast Guard stop its “illegal activities” in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), which included the fi ring of water cannons against Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessels during the weekend.

Facing lawmakers from August 22 to 24 are the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Justice, the Commission on Higher Education, the Commission on Audit, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of Labor and Employment, and the Department of Migrant Workers.

For August 29 to 31, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, the Presidential Communications Office, the Office of the Vice President, the Department of Education, e Judiciary, the Department of Information and Communications Technology, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government will defend their budgets.

Attending the last two weeks of committee-level budget briefi ng from September 4 to 11 are: the Department of Transportation, Office of the President, Commission on Human Rights, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Health, Department of National Defense, Department of Public Works and Highways, Office of the Ombudsman, and Commission on Elections.

“ e latest June 2023 labor force figures confi rm that the economy is still struggling to create decent work, pay and earnings,” Ibon Foundation said in a statement.

“ is is particularly clear if the results are interpreted against recent surveys which showed increases in self-rated poverty and decreases in household savings over the same period covered by the Labor Force Survey [LFS],” it added.

Data showed elementary occupations accounted for 30.3 percent of total employment.

In a presentation on Tuesday, National Statistician Claire Dennis Mapa said 14.8 million of the employed are engaged in elementary occupations, which increased from the 13.71 million in June 2022 and 14.55 million in May 2023.

Ibon noted that the biggest increases in employment came from the sub sectors with the lowest reported pay.

Ibon also said cited a 358,000 increase in wholesale and retail trade or P419 and 268,000 increase in other service activities at P304.

“ is simply follows the overall trend we have been observing that job quality has declined over time. Because of digital transformation, jobs have become more polarized as regular middle skilled jobs have disappeared. Most of these workers are joining the ranks of lowskilled informal jobs, resulting in a mismatching of skills,” Ateneo de Manila University economist Leonardo Lanzona Jr. said.

“In effect, the economic recovery we are experiencing is a laborsaving one, resulting in a greater proportion of lower-paid workers. is is due to the government’s failure to institute a massive skill development program that would raise labor demand, and an appropriate social protection system that can support worker livelihood conditions,” he explained.

Given the challenges of fi nding decent jobs, Action for Economic Reforms (AER) Coordinator Filomeno Sta. Ana said the least the government can do is to at least make food affordable.

Mapa earlier said that given the increase in rice prices, the country’s staple could again drive infl ation in the coming months.

PSA data showed rice infl ation averaged 4.2 percent in July 2023, the highest since February 2019 when the increase in the commodity’s prices was at 4.5 percent. e Rice Trade Liberalization (RTL) Act was implemented in March 2019.

Mapa said rice prices this year gradually increased starting in February when infl ation for the staple posted a 2.2-percent increase; March, 2.6 percent; April, 2.9 percent; May, 3.4 percent; and June, 3.6 percent before reaching 4.2 percent in July.

“Making food cheaper is a way of improving living standards and productivity without putting pressure on increasing wages,” Sta. Ana said. “ e challenge is to increase productivity of all laborers, not only those employed in modern enterprises.”

Mapa added that in July, as with June, the PSA recorded increases in the price of all rice varieties that it monitors—regular milled, wellmilled, and special rice.

Based on data, Mapa said regular milled rice prices averaged P41.50 per kilo, higher than the P41.20 per kilo in June and P39.60 per kilo in July 2022.

For well-milled rice, the average price was at P45.50 per kilo in July, higher than the P45.20 in June and P43.90 in July 2022.

Special rice averaged P54.60 per kilo in July, higher than the P54.40 posted in June and P53.10 in July 2022.

PSA data from PSA also showed that average regular milled rice prices started climbing in March 2022 at P38.97 per kilo, while special rice, the most expensive rice variety, started increasing from P52.96 per kilo in June 2022.

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) asked Congress to enact a law that will legitimately allow motorcycle riders to operate passenger services, given that the pilot study has been running for four years already.

LTFRB Chairman Teofilo Guadiz III, who chairs the technical working group (TWG) for motorcycle taxis, said the pilot has been running for four years since 2019 and that the ball is now in Congress’ court.

“ We are awaiting the determination whether to proceed or not,” he said. “We are merely trying to continue the study until the time that we were called for this hearing, perhaps to be given wisdom on what to do with the existing pilot study.”

Guadiz said the agency has submitted an initial report in 2021, another in 2022, and another recommendation report for this year. These documents, he said, outline the clauses that could used in crafting the law, encompassing “safety, security, franchise, regulatory procedures…and law enforcement.”

“The only way now for Congress is to move forward. Look into this motorcycle taxi pilot study with favor, and enact a legislation that will eventually legitimize this habal-habal into a legitimate organization,” he said.

O n Wednesday, the House Committee on Transportation conducted a legislative hearing on the proposed amendments to Sections 3 and 7 of Republic Act No. 4136 to include motorcycle-for-hire in the definition of terms and in the classification of vehicles that would require registration with the LTFRB.

D uring a recent House hearing, Land Transportation Office (LTO) Chief Vigor Mendoza, also the vice chair of the TWG, expressed his disagreement in terminating the pilot study.

H e highlighted existing gaps that need addressing, including issues like multihoming and liabilities. Mendoza also emphasized the importance of a transition period to ensure the proper implementation of the study.

The appeal came after Sagip Party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta inquired on the validity of the study and its scope and limitations.

L ikewise House Committee on Transportation chairman and Antipolo 2nd District Rep. Romeo Acop said the TWG should submit a “report confirming the conclusion of the study” given the amount of time that has passed since it was started.

Meanwhile, PBA Party-list Representative Migs Nograles proposed refraining from admitting new players to the MC Taxi Pilot Study until existing issues are resolved.

For his part Ariel Lim, President of the National Confederation of Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (NACTODAP), suggested to increase the rider allocation, especially for areas “outside Metro Manila.”

F ollowing the hearing, the TWG will present recommendations on the extension of the MC Taxi Pilot study, multi-homing, rider cap allocation, entry of new players, liabilities, and more. The House expects this comprehensive report within 45 days.