Manila, Philippines – The Department of Agriculture (DA) is now pushing to limit rice importation in the country to only 750,000 to 1 million metric tons per year, which would cover only the shortage in rice supply and provide a buffer stock good for two to three months.
This follows the proposed bill filed by House Speaker Martin Romualdez in the 20th Congress, which seeks to amend the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) and restore the authority of the National Food Authority (NFA) to control rice importation, especially during harvest season, as well as to set a floor price for unmilled rice.
According to Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., the department’s committee is set to meet with other lawmakers, including Senate President Francis Chiz Escudero and House Speaker Romualdez, to seek their support for the amendment of the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL).
The secretary emphasized that amending the RTL would yield positive outcomes, similar to the current limitations they have imposed on the importation of sugar and onions.
DA also believes that the RTL is gradually killing the local rice industry nationwide because it does not impose limits on rice importation.
They are calling for the immediate revision of the said law so that the government can have stronger control over rice trading and importation.
It can be recalled that the Rice Tariffication Law was enacted in 2019, where the collected tariffs were allocated to the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), which supports the modernization of farming and other forms of financial assistance to farmers.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had earlier expressed his support for amending the RTL.