The Department of Agriculture (DA) expects lower prices of agricultural products next month following the issuance of Executive Order No. (EO) 62 that mandated the reduction of tariffs.
“At ayon na rin sa pagtaya ni (DA) Secretary (Francisco) Tiu-Laurel, by October mararamdaman na rin natin iyong pagbaba (ng prices) because of EO 62 doon sa pagbaba ng taripa from 35 to 15 percent,” Assistant Secretary Arnel De Mesa said over the weekend.
De Mesa emphasized that the public can expect lower prices of rice as well as other agricultural products.
“So, iyong mga hakbangin na ito kumbaga sabay-sabay, sunud-sunod eventually it will come together to bring down the crisis hindi lang ng palay kundi pa ng ibang key agricultural commodities,” according to him.
Last June, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. sogned EO 62, ordering a tariff cut on rice and other select products.
De Mesa said Agriculture Secretary Laurel recommended to Marcos Jr. and to the whole Cabinet the periodic review of the lowering of the tariffs every four months.
“Pero sa ngayon, hanggang November kasi iyong susunod na review the Department (of Agriculture) does not see the need na baguhin pa iyong existing tariff as per the existing EO dahil nga hindi pa naman…kakasimula pa lang eh. And eventually siguro sa susunod na review doon natin makita, but for now it will stay,” he added.IMT
