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NEWS RELEASE
17 April 2008
Reference: Nerissa Guerero, GABRIELA Spokesperson, 371-22302
WOMEN'S GROUP STORMS NPCC TO DEMAND PRICE CONTROL
Members of the militant women's group GABRIELA trooped to the office
of the National Price Coordinating Council (NPCC) this morning to
demand the immediate implementation of price control on basic commodities.
"We have repeatedly said that the current situation warrants an
immediate and concrete action to abate the increasing prices of rice
and other basic commodities. We are now banging on the door of NPCC
head and DTI Sec. Peter Favila to rouse him from his state of denial,
and act on the demands of the people," said Nerisa Guerero, GABRIELA
spokesperson.
The women's group insists that Section 7 of the Price Act of 1992
gives the NPCC the power to recommend to the president the imposition of a
mandated price ceiling. The women's group said that the law particularly
stated that a price ceiling may be imposed if any of
certain conditions warrants. Among others, one such condition defined
in the law was "(W)henever the prevailing price of any basic necessity
or prime commodity has risen to unreasonable levels".
"Clearly the price of rice has risen to unreasonable level for why
else would we line up for the cheaper NFA rice. As mothers,
homemakers, and sometimes breadwinners, we bear the daily brunt of
seeing our families trying desperately, but failing miserably, to keep
up with the continuing and intensifying increases in the prices of
rice and other commodities," said Guerero.
GABRIELA said that the Arroyo administration is aggravating the toll
of soaring food prices on most families by keeping the minimum wage
pegged at only 360 pesos in the National Capital Regions.
GABRIELA also denounced a recent government statement on the need to pass
a law allowing farmers to use their land as collateral for bank
loans as part of its plan to achieve stable supply and prices of rice.
This government recommendation, according to Guerero, is "nothing but
a superficial resolution to the rice price crisis; a suggestion that
is simply preposterous, if not outright wicked."
"Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is indeed the Queen of Lies and Double-Talk.
She is simply setting up the Filipino farmers for further land
dispossession, and would only endanger further the food security of
the whole Filipino populace," said Guerero. ###
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NEWS RELEASE
14 April 2008
Reference: Nerissa Guerero, GABRIELA Spokesperson, 371-2302
WOMEN SLAMS GOV'T ANEW FOR HINTING
AT NFA RICE PRICE INCREASE
The women's group GABRIELA slammed the government anew for
conditioning the minds of the people for a price increase on NFA rice
from the current P18.25 to P25-P30.
"Instead of exercising its duty to impose price control, the
government is even planning to increase the price of NFA rice. This
is a shameless admission of their inutility to resolve the price
crisis," said Nerisa Guerero, GABRIELA spokesperson.
The women's group said that the Arroyo government's solutions to the
rice crisis, such as targeting small hoarders, and now distribution
mechanism of NFA rice at the local level, has no impact to the poor.
"The problem with the Arroyo government is that it continues to deny
that its policies are the root of the crisis and refuses to heed the
demand of the people for price control. Their resolutions target not
the root cause but the mere manifestation of the problem," said Guerero.
Guerero said that the country has been experiencing the rice crisis
for almost a month and the government is nowhere near resolving the
problem. "Meanwhile, the price increase of other basic commodities,
such as pandesal, is adding to the woes of Filipino families but the
government has yet to make any tangible action to arrest the daily
problems besetting the populace."
Guerero added that there is no need for the President to declare a
state of calamity to impose price ceiling. According to Section 7 of
Price Act of 1992, the President may impose a price ceiling on any
basic necessity or prime commodity, upon the recommendation of the
implementing agency, or the Price Coordinating Council, if any of the
following conditions so warrants: (1) The impendency, existence, or
effects of a calamity; (2) The threat, existence, or effect of an
emergency; (3) The prevalence or widespread acts of illegal price
manipulation: (4) The impendency, existence, or effect of any event
that causes artificial and unreasonable increase in the price of the
basic necessity or prime-commodity; and (5) Whenever the prevailing
price of any basic necessity or prime commodity has risen to
unreasonable levels.
GABRIELA will hold a women's action this week at the office of the
National Price Coordinating Council to demand the immediate order for
price control. ###
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NEWS RELEASE
12 April 2008
Reference: Nerissa Guerero, GABRIELA Spokesperson, 371-2302
WOMEN DECLARES STATE OF CALAMITY,
INVOKES PRICE ACT 0F 1992 TO DEMAND PRICE CONTROL
GABRIELA National Alliance of Women said the current situation of
soaring prices of rice and other basic commodities is already
a "state of calamity," which should have already given President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo every reason to impose price ceiling on
basic commodities as mandated by the 1992 Price Act.
"What we experience now amidst soaring prices of basic commodities
holds every bit of semblance in effect on the people as though we
are hit by a natural calamity. That people � young and old � are
lining up for hours under scorching heat, scrambling to buy
affordable rice, and are held virtually helpless to afford food, is
a picture of a society in a calamitous situation. We hold the
Arroyo government accountable for this and demand that price ceiling
be mandated immediately to arrest this chaotic situation," said
Nerissa Guerero, GABRIELA spokesperson.
"Price control is possible, feasible and, contrary to government
claims, not detrimental to the country's economy," added Guerero.
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Guerero said that a mandated
price ceiling has been done in the
past. She cited Executive Order 423 in 1990 when then President
Corazon Aquino ordered the imposition of price ceilings on certain
commodities including rice to "prevent unreasonable increases in the
price."
"The Arroyo government, through its policies that neglect local rice
production, prioritize agricultural production for export and gives
precedence to rice importation over strengthening the capacity of
local production, is accountable for the problem of soaring
commercial rice prices. That it fails to stop the continuing
phenomenal price hike of rice makes us surmise the possibility of
collusion with the big rice cartel that are currently swimming in
the profit of exorbitant rice at the cost of the people's misery,"
concluded Guerero.
According to Center for Women's Resources (CWR), and independent
research institute for women, prices of basic commodities rose
sharply from March 2007 to March 2008. Aside from rice, the most
significant rise was noted in cooking oil (48.61%), liquefied
petroleum gas or LPG (26.99%), powdered milk (20.81%) and sugar
(20.14%).
GABRIELA joined the multi-sectoral action today against price
increases and will launch a series of actions in the coming weeks.
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