President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. announced a comprehensive suite of interventions on Monday aimed at stabilizing food costs and ensuring food security as the nation navigates a prevailing energy emergency.
The President’s directives focus on reducing logistical bottlenecks, lowering import barriers, and expanding direct-to-consumer sales programs to provide immediate relief to Filipino families.
In a statement from Malacañang, President Marcos confirmed he has instructed the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Tariff Commission to implement strategic tariff cuts on essential food imports.
“I have ordered the lowering of tariffs on imported food to help bring down prices for our consumers,” President Marcos stated. “However, this directive is clear: it cannot be done haphazardly. Every step must ensure the protection of our local production. We will protect the consumers, the farmers, and the industry alike.”
To further streamline the supply chain, the government will fast-track the issuance of vital permits, including:
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Sanitary and Phytosanitary Import Clearances (SPSIC)
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Certificates of Necessity to Import
Recognizing that transport costs significantly inflate retail prices, the Chief Executive announced a major reduction in fees at key gateways. The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has already slashed the Ro-Ro terminal fee to just one peso (₱1.00) for vehicles transporting agricultural products.
Other logistical interventions include:
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Removal of Fish Port Tolls: Eliminating fees to lower the overhead for the fisheries sector.
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Fee Suspensions: Suspension or reduction of anchorage, berthing, cargo handling, and storage fees at major hubs, including Cebu and Subic Bay.
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Wastage Mitigation: Targeted strategies to address overproduction during harvest seasons to prevent food loss.
To ensure that marginalized sectors are not left behind, President Marcos announced the scaling up of the Benteng Bigas program. The expansion focuses on accessibility and inclusivity:
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Increased Outlets: More stores will be established nationwide.
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Extended Operating Hours: Ensuring working families have access to affordable rice.
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Priority Access: Dedicated lanes and support for Senior Citizens, PWDs, and Single Parents.
“Our goal is to keep the supply sufficient and ensure that the livelihoods of our countrymen remain continuous,” the President emphasized, noting that the reduction in port and logistics costs is a direct investment in the Filipino dinner table.
