DA chief: Rice tariff law ‘threatens to kill' local rice industry

GMA Network

21 hours ago

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. on Wednesday called for amending the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL), warning that it 'threatens to kill' the rice industry.
During the hearing of the Senate committee on agriculture, food and agrarian reform, Tiu Laurel emphasized that the government must revisit, amend, and possibly replace laws that 'no longer serve [the] farmers and consumers.'
'Foremost among these is the Rice Tariffication Law. Though crafted with noble goals, I have to admit, it has faltered. By fully liberalizing rice imports, it unintentionally undermined the Department of Agriculture and the NFA, stripping us of the ability to intervene and protect this most vital of commodities,' he said.
'As currently written, the RTL does not reform the rice industry—it threatens to kill it,' he added.
Enacted in 2019 to liberalize rice importation, the RTL empowers the President to halt imports under specific conditions.
Before the RTL took effect and its amended version this year, the National Food Authority (NFA) could import rice to augment supply, allowing it to maintain a healthier buffer stock and intervene when prices surged.
Earlier this month, Malacañang also admitted the government has encountered challenges in stabilizing the price of rice due to the RTL.
The DA chief also lamented the devolution of agricultural extension services under the Local Government Code, which he said took from the agency 'the very foot soldiers we need to win a war against hunger.'
'Without them, the DA is just an office full of officers like generals, colonels , or majors without soldiers on the ground to fully implement its plans and vision for an agri-secure Philippines,' Tiu Laurel said.
He also echoed the statement of panel vice chairperson Senator Rodante Marcoleta that the Philippines is still far from attaining food security.
'In recent years, we have taken bold steps to undo the legacy of neglect that has stunted our agricultural sector for decades. Reforms have been made, enacted, investments have begun to flow, and productivity is rising. Yet, the road ahead remains long and steep. Parang nabanggit ho ni Senator Marcoleta nga kanina, hindi pa tayo food-secure…kulang pa,' Tiu Laurel said.
(Like what Senator Marcoleta said a while ago, we are not yet food-secure, we're still lacking.)
Meanwhile, committee chairperson Francis 'Kiko' Pangilinan vowed to find the fastest way to reduce the price of food and other commodities in a bid to address hunger among Filipinos.
'Problema ito na urgent at ang urgency kailangang kumilos dahil hindi makakapaghintay ang gutom. Ang ating mga ginugutom na mga kababayan kung hindi masisira ang ulo, magkakasakit o kung hindi kaya matapos magkasakit ay mamamatay,' Pangilinan said.
(This is an urgent problem and an urgent action is needed because hunger cannot wait. Our starving countrymen will either lose their minds, get sick, or possibly die due to this.) — BM, GMA Integrated News