The government's decision to import rice in advance will help ease pressure of prices on the domestic economy as well as in the faster rise of inflation.

Department of Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap earlier said they planned to import the country's 2010 rice requirements as early as possible to avert any supply shortage as a result of the recent calamities that hit among others rice-producing areas in the country, a government press release said.

He, however, declined to say how much rice would be imported and when it would be done citing that this would push prices up.

Electronic corn trading soon

The Department of Agriculture, through its attached agency the National Food Authority, is set to launch late this month electronic trading (e-trading) for corn.

Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap said he has directed the NFA to come up with an e-trading system for corn, which is scheduled to start on November 25, wherein farmers and traders can transact business online, a government press release said.

"Through electronic trading, people can take positions and buy stocks from any NFA warehouse," he said.

‘Slash corporate tax rate
to make wage hike viable'

Sen. Chiz Escudero has urged for major reforms in the country's labor policies, starting with a legislated across-the-board wage increase and limits to labor contractualization, a press release from his office said.

Escudero said the government has failed to protect the rights and welfare of workers and instead has paid lip service to the labor sector.

“The Philippine Constitution recognizes the importance of labor and mandates that the State shall protect workers' rights and promote their welfare. But the sad reality is that workers do not receive their fair share,” Escudero said in the press release.

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