MANILA, Philippines 鈥� National Security Adviser (NSA) Eduardo A帽o said on Tuesday that he backed the declaration of a food emergency since food security was 鈥渁 national security interest鈥� and the move would address high prices of commodities, particularly rice.
鈥淲hile there is sufficient supply of rice in the country, the price of rice, however, remains artificially high despite declining global rice costs and tariff reductions ordered by the President.
READ: No rice shortage amid plans to declare food security emergency
Since rice is the country鈥檚 staple food, artificially high prices directly impact the lives of all Filipinos,鈥欌�� he said in a statement. The Department of Agriculture, according to him, is well within its authority 鈥渢o effectively regulate and reduce the price to protect the interests of the public.鈥�
鈥淧rofiteering from the food security emergency, politicizing this issue for partisan political interest, and other malicious activities will cause more harm to the Filipino people,鈥� A帽o said. 鈥擭estor Corrales