Women declares state of calamity, invokes price act of 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.

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.###