Long lines for P20/kilo rice as Middle East crisis pushes prices up

MANILA, Philippines – Long queues formed at government sites selling P20-per-kilo rice as the Middle East conflict pushed up prices of basic goods.

“We’ve observed nationwide that the lines are getting longer,” National Food Authority (NFA) Administrator Larry Lacson said in a mix of Filipino and English on Monday, March 16. “In fact, I don’t know if it’s good or bad, but sometimes our kababayans start to line up the night before.”

The government distributes subsidized rice and sells it for P20/kilo. These are primarily sold at Kadiwa centers across the country. Beneficiaries of the program are senior citizens, persons with disabilities, indigent families, solo parents, farmers, fishers, minimum wage earners, and public transport workers.

The long lines create a “false impression of a supply shortage,” according to a statement from the Department of Agriculture (DA) on Sunday, March 15.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said they understand that the US-Israel war in Iran is stoking anxiety among Filipinos. (READ: How are Filipino farmers, fishers affected by the Middle East crisis?)

“But acting out of panic will only worsen the situation,” Laurel said. “We have enough rice buffer and a good harvest.”

Food Terminal Incorporated president Joseph Lo said they have extended distribution hours to accommodate those who lined up.

The NFA still has a supply good for 10.3 days as of Monday, Lacson said. Tasked with maintaining buffer stocks for emergencies, the NFA buys rice from local farmers at P17 per kilo for fresh or wet palay and P21 per kilo for dry palay.

“Mukhang hahaba ang pila,” said Lacson. “Alam naman nating wala pang definite time ‘yung nangyayari sa Middle East so tendency ‘yung mga tao gustong mag-secure ng pagkain.”

(It looks like lines will only get longer. We know there’s no definite time when the crisis in the Middle East will end, so people have the tendency to secure food.) – Rappler.com