The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
In support of the declaration of national food emergency on rice by the Department of Agriculture (DA), Land Transportation Office (LTO) Chief Assistant Secretary Atty. Vigor D. Mendoza II ordered all LTO regional directors and heads of law enforcement units to provide assistance on cargo trucks delivering rice supply across the country.
Asec. Mendoza explained that the LTO assistance is aimed at ensuring the unhampered and smooth national government intervention through the delivery of rice supply to various areas in the country, particularly in cities and municipalities which would be identified as having shortage or extraordinary increase in rice prices.
“Under the guidance of our DOTr Secretary Jaime J. Bautista, we will make available some of our personnel to escorts cargo trucks that would be tapped to deliver rice from the point of origin to point of destination,” said Asec. Mendoza.
“We will be coordinating with the Department of Agriculture and other government agencies regarding this matter, and we expect our LTO Regional Directors to do the same in their respective areas of responsibility,” he added.
In a memo signed by DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr., it declared a national food emergency on rice in order for the national government to effectively address rice shortage and unusual price increase.
In the same memo, the declaration of national food emergency on rice was recommended by the National Price Coordinating Council wherein the DOTr is a member. LTO is under the DOTr.
With rice as the primary staple food for millions of Filipinos, Asec Mendoza emphasized the need for cooperation and coordination of all the concerned government agencies, including the LTO.
“We are ready to deploy manpower and resources in order to help attain the objective of this declaration because the main consideration here is the welfare of millions of our kababayan,” said Asec. Mendoza.
“We will continuously monitor and get updates regarding this matter in order for us to plan and implement the necessary assistance that we in the LTO could provide,” he added.