• About
  • Contact
Thursday, July 10, 2025
Catholic Sabah
  • News
    • All
    • Asia
    • Focus
    • Local
    • Nation
    • Vatican
    • World
    Ringkasan Pembinaan Gereja St Catherine of Laboure Putatan

    Ringkasan Pembinaan Gereja St Catherine of Laboure Putatan

    Thai priest finds grace, cultural bridge in Indonesian exorcist film Kuasa Gelap

    Thai priest finds grace, cultural bridge in Indonesian exorcist film Kuasa Gelap

    Relic of St Anthony draws thousands to KL

    Relic of St Anthony draws thousands to KL

    Faith-based video series to combat consumerism launched

    Faith-based video series to combat consumerism launched

    Pope Leo XIV and a world in the measure of children

    Pope Leo XIV and a world in the measure of children

    How to spend your holidays according to the Popes

    How to spend your holidays according to the Popes

    Six million visitors to Notre Dame Cathedral in six months

    Six million visitors to Notre Dame Cathedral in six months

    United Nations warns of dire humanitarian situation in Sudan

    United Nations warns of dire humanitarian situation in Sudan

    Uskup Indonesia mempromosikan migrasi selamat, mengukuhkan ekonomi

    Uskup Indonesia mempromosikan migrasi selamat, mengukuhkan ekonomi

  • Opinion
    • All
    • Im on my Way
    • Kanou Monuhid Lahan Koposizon
    • Making A Difference
    • Mantad Di Katekis Peter
    • Reflection: Straight Talking
    Pax: The Monastery’s missionary witness

    Pax: The Monastery’s missionary witness

    The power of words

    What to do when there’s nothing you can do

    What Catholic Sabah stands for

    Part 1: Porn a silent addiction?

    The curious story of the Nicene Creed

    The curious story of the Nicene Creed

    Challenges of teaching theology in lived experiences

    Challenges of teaching theology in lived experiences

    Myth and history

    Myth and history

    Did Teresa of Avila inspire Descartes’ ‘I think, therefore I am’?

    Did Teresa of Avila inspire Descartes’ ‘I think, therefore I am’?

    Are conclaves really secret?

    Are conclaves really secret?

  • Feature
    Sisters of Mary uplift Tanzania’s disadvantaged youth

    Sisters of Mary uplift Tanzania’s disadvantaged youth

    Losing a loved one to suicide

    It is better for you that I go away

    ‘We Can’t Just Stand By and Watch’

    ‘We Can’t Just Stand By and Watch’

    Kisah pertemuan dengan Kristus: Pengalaman sertai Jubli para Remaja di Vatikan

    Kisah pertemuan dengan Kristus: Pengalaman sertai Jubli para Remaja di Vatikan

    Council of Constantinople reaffirms Christ’s divinity and clarifies the Trinity

    Council of Constantinople reaffirms Christ’s divinity and clarifies the Trinity

    South Korean Catholic convert finds strength in Legion of Mary

    South Korean Catholic convert finds strength in Legion of Mary

    Slogan “Bahasa Jiwa Bangsa” harus dipupuk hingga ke generasi seterusnya

    Slogan “Bahasa Jiwa Bangsa” harus dipupuk hingga ke generasi seterusnya

    Bahasa ibunda adalah warisan dalam kehidupan

    Bahasa ibunda adalah warisan dalam kehidupan

  • Statements
    World Day of Social Communications 2025 message by Pope Francis

    World Day of Social Communications 2025 message by Pope Francis

    Banns of Sacerdotal Ordination

    Banns of Sacerdotal Ordination

    Perutusan daripada Presiden Persidangan Uskup-Uskup Katolik Malaysia sempena Hari Malaysia

    Pastoral Letter on Earthquake in Myanmar and Regional Solidarity Appeal

    Chancery Notice

    Chancery Notice

    FABC Pastoral Letter to the local churches in Asia

    FABC Pastoral Letter to the local churches in Asia

    Commotion in Church: Press statement from Archbishop Simon Poh

    Commotion in Church: Press statement from Archbishop Simon Poh

    Lent 2025 message by Pope Francis

    Lent 2025 message by Pope Francis

    Pastoral Statement for dispensation from fasting  during Chinese New Year 2025

    Pastoral Statement for dispensation from fasting during Chinese New Year 2025

  • Chinese
  • Bahasa Melayu
  • Kadazan Dusun
  • JUBILEE 2025
  • About
  • Donate
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • All
    • Asia
    • Focus
    • Local
    • Nation
    • Vatican
    • World
    Ringkasan Pembinaan Gereja St Catherine of Laboure Putatan

    Ringkasan Pembinaan Gereja St Catherine of Laboure Putatan

    Thai priest finds grace, cultural bridge in Indonesian exorcist film Kuasa Gelap

    Thai priest finds grace, cultural bridge in Indonesian exorcist film Kuasa Gelap

    Relic of St Anthony draws thousands to KL

    Relic of St Anthony draws thousands to KL

    Faith-based video series to combat consumerism launched

    Faith-based video series to combat consumerism launched

    Pope Leo XIV and a world in the measure of children

    Pope Leo XIV and a world in the measure of children

    How to spend your holidays according to the Popes

    How to spend your holidays according to the Popes

    Six million visitors to Notre Dame Cathedral in six months

    Six million visitors to Notre Dame Cathedral in six months

    United Nations warns of dire humanitarian situation in Sudan

    United Nations warns of dire humanitarian situation in Sudan

    Uskup Indonesia mempromosikan migrasi selamat, mengukuhkan ekonomi

    Uskup Indonesia mempromosikan migrasi selamat, mengukuhkan ekonomi

  • Opinion
    • All
    • Im on my Way
    • Kanou Monuhid Lahan Koposizon
    • Making A Difference
    • Mantad Di Katekis Peter
    • Reflection: Straight Talking
    Pax: The Monastery’s missionary witness

    Pax: The Monastery’s missionary witness

    The power of words

    What to do when there’s nothing you can do

    What Catholic Sabah stands for

    Part 1: Porn a silent addiction?

    The curious story of the Nicene Creed

    The curious story of the Nicene Creed

    Challenges of teaching theology in lived experiences

    Challenges of teaching theology in lived experiences

    Myth and history

    Myth and history

    Did Teresa of Avila inspire Descartes’ ‘I think, therefore I am’?

    Did Teresa of Avila inspire Descartes’ ‘I think, therefore I am’?

    Are conclaves really secret?

    Are conclaves really secret?

  • Feature
    Sisters of Mary uplift Tanzania’s disadvantaged youth

    Sisters of Mary uplift Tanzania’s disadvantaged youth

    Losing a loved one to suicide

    It is better for you that I go away

    ‘We Can’t Just Stand By and Watch’

    ‘We Can’t Just Stand By and Watch’

    Kisah pertemuan dengan Kristus: Pengalaman sertai Jubli para Remaja di Vatikan

    Kisah pertemuan dengan Kristus: Pengalaman sertai Jubli para Remaja di Vatikan

    Council of Constantinople reaffirms Christ’s divinity and clarifies the Trinity

    Council of Constantinople reaffirms Christ’s divinity and clarifies the Trinity

    South Korean Catholic convert finds strength in Legion of Mary

    South Korean Catholic convert finds strength in Legion of Mary

    Slogan “Bahasa Jiwa Bangsa” harus dipupuk hingga ke generasi seterusnya

    Slogan “Bahasa Jiwa Bangsa” harus dipupuk hingga ke generasi seterusnya

    Bahasa ibunda adalah warisan dalam kehidupan

    Bahasa ibunda adalah warisan dalam kehidupan

  • Statements
    World Day of Social Communications 2025 message by Pope Francis

    World Day of Social Communications 2025 message by Pope Francis

    Banns of Sacerdotal Ordination

    Banns of Sacerdotal Ordination

    Perutusan daripada Presiden Persidangan Uskup-Uskup Katolik Malaysia sempena Hari Malaysia

    Pastoral Letter on Earthquake in Myanmar and Regional Solidarity Appeal

    Chancery Notice

    Chancery Notice

    FABC Pastoral Letter to the local churches in Asia

    FABC Pastoral Letter to the local churches in Asia

    Commotion in Church: Press statement from Archbishop Simon Poh

    Commotion in Church: Press statement from Archbishop Simon Poh

    Lent 2025 message by Pope Francis

    Lent 2025 message by Pope Francis

    Pastoral Statement for dispensation from fasting  during Chinese New Year 2025

    Pastoral Statement for dispensation from fasting during Chinese New Year 2025

  • Chinese
  • Bahasa Melayu
  • Kadazan Dusun
  • JUBILEE 2025
  • About
  • Donate
No Result
View All Result
Catholic Sabah
No Result
View All Result
Home News Asia

Filipino farmers demand end to rice hoarding, profiteering

April 19, 2023
in Asia
Filipino farmers demand end to rice hoarding, profiteering

Farmers work in a rice field near the International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines in this file image. (Photo: AFP)

By UCA News reporter

Apr 19 2023

A national farmers’ group in the Philippines has called on the government to remain vigilant against the hoarding of and profiteering from rice as climatologists warned about a prolonged dry season that can negatively impact crop harvest.   

The state-run Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration warned that the El Nino phenomenon will persist until September.

El Nino is a weather condition that increases the likelihood of below-normal rainfall as well as dry spells and droughts and negatively impacts the production of crops.

The Federation of Free Farmers expressed concerns that the dry season may not only be the reason for the skyrocketing of rice prices in the coming months but unscrupulous rice traders engaged in hoarding.

“Based on our data, the total projected demand of rice is 14.5 million metric tons and the actual rice to be consumed by our population is nearly 13 million metric tons. If the amount of exported rice dramatically exceeds that amount, the logical assumption is that they’re kept by hoarders,” the federation’s national manager Raul Montemayor told UCA News.

He said even if the government imports enough rice to cover for loss of rice yields the price might go up due to hoarding by unscrupulous traders.

“We are looking at different ways to control the price”

President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., however, assured people the price of rice would be under control and monitored.

“Again, I want to assure our fellow citizens that … we are looking at different ways to control the price so that it wouldn’t increase that much,” Marcos said during an April 17 press conference.

He said the government is determined to stock enough rice to feed the country’s estimated 113 million people.

Marcos, who heads the nation’s Agriculture Department, claimed he was ready to import rice should the dry season result in a poor harvest.

Assistant agriculture secretary, Rex Estoperez, said the El Nino effects are just like “any other” calamity like the typhoons that hit the archipelago frequently.

“The impact could be similar if we have calamities like typhoons as it could affect rice production … we need to increase our buffer stock, we could import rice if there’s a shortage,” Estoperez told reporters on April 18.

The official also said that rice production in 2022-2023 would remain the same at 12.5 million tons, citing the Foreign Agricultural Service of the US Department of Agriculture.

The agency forecast rice imports would still reach up to 2.8 million tons, or 200,000 tons lower than in 2021-2022.

Government data shows rice prices were already rising due to inflation.

The cheapest variety of rice now sells at 36-44 pesos ($0.65-$0.80) per kilogram, up from 35-38 pesos at the start of the year, Reuters reported on April 14.
The farmers’ federation leader, Christopher Maligalig, alleged that rice traders have already begun hoarding so they can control the market price.

“We know tons of rice are already being stocked in warehouses for this purpose,” in the northern Philippines, Maligalig, chairman of the federation’s Bulacan province branch, told UCA News.

“They want to keep silent due to safety reasons”

He claimed their group has a list of warehouses in the northern Philippines belonging to suspected rice hoarders.

“We know because we have men on the ground and they were asked to look for men to put hundreds of sacks of rice in secret warehouses,” Maligalig said.

Farmers say speaking about the rice cartel is unsafe in the Philippines.

“We have some ten farmers who know about the cartel and politicians are involved in it. But they want to keep silent due to safety reasons” James Arasco, 38, from the Bicol region, told UCA News.

Arasco said their local produce was being bought by a local businessman who they later found out has been hoarding rice from all over the region.

“We don’t complain because at least we have an outlet. We cannot compete with the rice from Vietnam and Thailand. At least someone buys our rice,” he added.

Lawyer Ryan Pingol said the hoarding of agricultural products such as rice is a crime under Philippine law.

“Those found to be in violation of rice/corn hoarding and profiteering shall suffer the penalty of 20 years imprisonment and a fine of 5 million pesos,” Pingol told UCA News.

The Catholic Church’s social arm, Caritas, has started a rice mobilization for the poor should a crisis hit in the next few months.

“We have bought good quality rice for its best price. For now, we are just going to keep it so that we can give it to the poor if the rice shortage predictions come true,” Caritas chief, Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo of Kidapawan, said. – UCA News

Previous Post

Sunday School brings back Stations of the Cross to commemorate Good Friday

Next Post

Apr 20 2023

Related Posts

Jul 10 2025
Readings

Jul 10 2025

July 10, 2025
Ringkasan Pembinaan Gereja St Catherine of Laboure Putatan
Bahasa Melayu

Ringkasan Pembinaan Gereja St Catherine of Laboure Putatan

July 9, 2025
Thai priest finds grace, cultural bridge in Indonesian exorcist film Kuasa Gelap
Asia

Thai priest finds grace, cultural bridge in Indonesian exorcist film Kuasa Gelap

July 9, 2025
Next Post
Apr 20 2023

Apr 20 2023

Recent News

Ringkasan Pembinaan Gereja St Catherine of Laboure Putatan

Ringkasan Pembinaan Gereja St Catherine of Laboure Putatan

July 9, 2025
Thai priest finds grace, cultural bridge in Indonesian exorcist film Kuasa Gelap

Thai priest finds grace, cultural bridge in Indonesian exorcist film Kuasa Gelap

July 9, 2025
Relic of St Anthony draws thousands to KL

Relic of St Anthony draws thousands to KL

July 9, 2025
Faith-based video series to combat consumerism launched

Faith-based video series to combat consumerism launched

July 9, 2025
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Minor reshuffle and new appointment of priests

Minor reshuffle and new appointment of priests

July 15, 2024
Enggan punya anak, antara sebab perpisahan suami-isteri

Enggan punya anak, antara sebab perpisahan suami-isteri

May 20, 2025
Minor transfer of priests

Minor transfer of priests

November 11, 2023
Tender Notice St Catherine of Laboure Church, Putatan

Tender Notice St Catherine of Laboure Church, Putatan

April 29, 2025
The Church wants to be more the ‘inn’ of the Good Samaritan for the sick

The Church wants to be more the ‘inn’ of the Good Samaritan for the sick

Parishioners are invited to help form prophetic and servant priests

Parishioners are invited to help form prophetic and servant priests

Archdiocesan Notice on SSPX

Archdiocesan Notice on SSPX

April 28 2020

April 28 2020

Jul 10 2025

Jul 10 2025

July 10, 2025
Ringkasan Pembinaan Gereja St Catherine of Laboure Putatan

Ringkasan Pembinaan Gereja St Catherine of Laboure Putatan

July 9, 2025
Thai priest finds grace, cultural bridge in Indonesian exorcist film Kuasa Gelap

Thai priest finds grace, cultural bridge in Indonesian exorcist film Kuasa Gelap

July 9, 2025
Relic of St Anthony draws thousands to KL

Relic of St Anthony draws thousands to KL

July 9, 2025
Catholic Sabah

Catholic Sabah is a media organization based in Sabah Malaysia. We bring you the latest Catholic news right to your doorstep!

Follow Us

Browse by Category

  • Asia
  • Bahasa Melayu
  • Borneo: Ordinary Person, Extraordinary Faith
  • Chinese
  • Feature
  • Focus
  • Im on my Way
  • JUBILEE 2025
  • Kadazan Dusun
  • Kanou Monuhid Lahan Koposizon
  • Local
  • Making A Difference
  • Mantad Di Katekis Peter
  • Nation
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Readings
  • Reflection: Straight Talking
  • Statements
  • Vatican
  • World

Recent Additions

Jul 10 2025

Ringkasan Pembinaan Gereja St Catherine of Laboure Putatan

Thai priest finds grace, cultural bridge in Indonesian exorcist film Kuasa Gelap

Relic of St Anthony draws thousands to KL

Faith-based video series to combat consumerism launched

Pope Leo XIV and a world in the measure of children

  • About
  • Contact

© 2024 Catholic Sabah - Powered by KK Top Web.

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Feature
  • Statements
  • Chinese
  • Bahasa Melayu
  • Kadazan Dusun
  • JUBILEE 2025
  • About
  • Donate

© 2024 Catholic Sabah - Powered by KK Top Web.