DA forms technical working group on rice classification

THe Department of Agriculture (DA) has formed a technical working group (TWG) to review the current methodology used by government in collecting rice price data and to formulate a new rice classification system.

Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar issued Special Order (SO) 669 which authorized the creation of a TWG for the formulation of a new rice classification system.

In SO 669, Dar said there is a need to formulate a new rice classification system for monitoring rice prices since the old classification is “no longer relevant” under the new rice trade regime, following the enactment of the rice trade liberalization law in 2019.

“In order to better measure rice inflation in the country, a Technical Working Group [TWG] that will examine and recommend the most appropriate rice classification system in the country and will guide the Philippine Statistics Authority [PSA] in gathering rice prices and rice-related data in the future is hereby created,” he said in the SO dated September 15.

The TWG will be chaired by Agriculture Undersecretary Fermin D. Adriano and co-chaired by National economic and Development Authority (Neda) Undersecretary Mercedita A. Sombilla.

Agriculture Assistant Secretary Noel A. Padre and Marissa Romero of the Philippine Rice Research Institute will serve as vice-chairpersons of the TWG. The TWG will have members from both the government and private sector, including a representative from International Rice Research Institute, according to the SO.DAR instructed the TWG to conduct a brief review of the literature on rice preferences and rice classification landscape of other countries as well as review the current methodology in collecting rice price data, including rice consumption in the Family Income and expenditure Survey (FIES).

The TWG is required to submit to Dar its report and recommendation for the new rice classification system on or before October 31. It will eventually be endorsed to the NEDA-PSA board.

“Formulate the new rice classification system that will guide future data gathering on rice prices and other ricerelated concerns taking into consideration the difficulties currently encountered by PSA in gathering rice-related data,” Dar said.

In 2018, the Businessmirror published its award-winning Broader look story explaining certain gaps and discrepancies in the government’s data system when it comes to rice-related statistics, particularly per capita consumption of Filipinos. (Related story: https://businessmirror.com. ph/2018/08/30/snapshot-of-riceconsumption-data-remains-grainyas-pinoys-grapple-with-supplyprices/the per capita).