Another economic expert sounds alarm over looming rice crisis

Another economic policy expert has sounded the alarm over the politicized and snail-paced handling of the looming rice crisis by Malacañang. Echoing the position of National Economic Development Authority (Neda) Director General Arsenio Balisacan, an economist from government think tank, Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), has contested Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Proceso Alcala’s "rice self-sufficiency strategies,” citing "flaws” in the management of the country’s current rice situation supposedly caused by "inherently slow, politicized decision making.” PIDS senior research fellow, Dr. Roehlano Briones, said the country’s rice prices are higher than what is "enjoyed by the rest of the world,” because "our domestic production is not enough to meet demand.” Briones’ statement came in the wake of Balisacan’s Sept. 10, 2013 Memorandum for the President, warning of "food security issues” arising from a 2013 rice production deficit of anywhere from 0.5 million to 1.4 million metric tons (MT). But while Alcala continues to insist that rice supplies are sufficient, Briones, citing Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) figures from from 2010 to 2012, quotes a minimum deficit of more than 3 million MT between production and net food disposable data.