Rewind 2023: Food shortages, rising prices, importation woes among agri challenges this year

CNN Philippines

Many Filipinos were forced to eat less this year as food prices increased.  We look at all the challenges faced by the agricultural sector in this year-end report by Currie Cator.  Visit our website for more #NewsYouCanTrust: https://www.cnnphilippines.com/  Follow our social media pages:  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CNNPhilippines • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cnnphilippines/ • Twitter: https://twitter.com/cnnphilippines

Transcript

00:00 [Music]

00:05 The year began with soaring food prices

00:08 [Music]

00:14 lasting until the end of the year.

00:16 The struggle was real for many consumers.

00:20 "You're going to get a tight belt."

00:22 [Music]

00:25 The agriculture department initially faced an onion shortage

00:29 prompting the agency to impose a suggested retail price or SRP of P250 per kilo.

00:36 But with prices hardly unchanged,

00:39 the DA was forced to sell the vegetable for P170 in Kadiwa stores.

00:44 They also planned to import around a thousand metric tons

00:48 and even set an SRP for imported onions.

00:52 From vegetable to poultry,

00:54 egg prices also went up to over P9 per piece

00:58 again because of supply shortage.

01:01 [Music]

01:05 Sugar also a commodity at front and center.

01:08 In particular, the decision of the DA to import over 200,000 metric tons

01:13 even without the required sugar order.

01:16 The agency's defense,

01:18 the president who was then agriculture secretary was aware of the shipment.

01:23 "I consider it as a sugar order already."

01:26 "Because it was a directive from the executive secretary."

01:30 [Music]

01:34 Come April, pork prices also went up

01:37 because of the impact of African swine fever

01:40 and supposedly from traders and middlemen taking advantage of supply issues.

01:45 A group sounded the alarm.

01:47 "What's happening to onions, what could happen to the entire food system?"

01:53 It was only a matter of time for the warning to come true.

01:57 [Music]

02:01 Consumers then grappled with more expensive price for months.

02:06 The cheapest at over P50 per kilo in August.

02:09 The government responded by imposing a price cap the following month.

02:14 The price ceiling stayed even at the onset of harvest.

02:18 "It's not just that we can't afford to buy kawawa, we can't afford to buy patik."

02:23 "We can't afford to buy it because we don't have any left."

02:26 "Oh no, we have to buy mentik, it's tiring, it's hard."

02:31 "Think about it, if you're going to get married, maybe you can afford to buy gas."

02:36 As if these were not enough,

02:39 [Music]

02:42 egg prices rose yet again in November

02:45 as well as items for the Noche Buena table.

02:48 The belated entry of a new agriculture chief

02:51 coming at a time of food supply and affordability concerns.

02:56 "Ako po si Francisco T. Laurel, Jr."

02:59 President Marcos has chosen a fishing tycoon to replace him as agriculture chief.

03:04 But not without questions on the newest cabinet member

03:08 who was also a top campaign donor of the chief executive.

03:12 [Music]

03:15 The new agriculture chief faces the daunting task of making food,

03:20 especially rice, affordable to ordinary Filipinos.

03:23 Saddled with rising costs beyond food,

03:26 our kababayans are waiting for relief from soaring prices in the coming year.

03:31 Kari Kator, CNN Philippines.

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