Jun Torres

Name rice czar – solon

There is no shortage at least for now, according to two lawmakers.

However, one sees a need for a rice czar and other said it may be necessary to declare a state of emergency and impose price control to avert a rice crisis.

Speaking in a news forum, Ayes and Nays, Quezon City Rep. Matias Defensor and Nueva Ecija Rep. Edno Joson, both former officials of the National Food Authority, said unscrupulous traders are creating an artificial shortage of rice so they can jack up the price of commercial rice and rake in more profit.

“as a whole we have enough rice supply. But the government should be very vigilant against the hoarders,” Defensor said.

But despite his claim of no shortage, Defensor urged President Macapagal-Arroyo to appoint a rice czar whose function is to monitor the supply, production and even hoarding.

According to Defensor, the appointment of a rice czar, on top of the action to be taken by concerned agencies such as the National Food Authority and the Department of Agriculture, is necessary to avert a rice crisis.

Joson suggested that the government should implement a soft and hard approach to resolve the problem.

He said the government should start with talking to traders, retailers and wholesalers to lower the price of commercial rice and unload their stocks in the market so that the people will not resort to panic buying.