A PLAN by the Department of Agriculture (DA) to bar rice traders and retailers from labeling their goods as imported is unlikely to achieve its goal of bringing rice prices down. In fact, there is a whiff of desperation in the plan, as enunciated by Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, to do something — anything — to appear to be taking action, as rice prices remain high despite the government's policy of liberalizing imports.

'After conducting a series of market visits, we now have reason to believe that some retailers and traders are intentionally confusing Filipino consumers with branded imports to justify the high prices of rice,' Tiu Laurel said in late December.