DA recommends keeping 15% tariff on imported rice
Workers at the National Food Authority (NFA) warehouse in Quezon City stack sacks of rice that arrived from Vietnam, June 27, 2018. GMA News file photo
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has recommended retaining the 15% tariff on imported rice to help mitigate the effects of inflation in local prices.
In a public briefing on Wednesday, DA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said that they aim on lowering the effects of inflation throughout the agricultural industry.
'Napakaimportante yan sa buong ekonomiya ng ating bansa, at masigurado din natin na maging tuloy-tuloy ang mga programa natin na mas mababang presyo ng bilihin di lamang ng bigas kundi iba pang agricultural commodities,' said de Mesa.
(It is very important to the economy of the entire country, and we should ensure that our programs to lower the prices of commodities will continue, not just rice but other agricultural commodities.)
He further said that the majority of every P100 that poor Filipino families spend were used to purchase rice.
'Mga 25% kasi ng bigas na kino-consume natin ay imported. So, kung mapapanatili natin na mababa ang taripa at 15%, mas masisigurado natin na yung pangkalahatang presyo ng bigas ay mas magiging matatag at hindi makakaapekto sa price spikes kung magkakaroon man. Yung inflation overall natin, mapapanatili nating mababa kung mananatiling mababa presyo ng bigas,' he added.
(About 25% of the rice we consume is imported. So, if we keep the tariff low at 15%, we can better ensure that the overall price of rice will remain stable and won't affect any price spikes. We can keep or overall inflation lower if we keep the price of rice low.)
DA said that they consider the price of rice in international markets, exchange rates, logistics costs from the port of origin, and productivity in the country when considering rice tariffs.
'Napakaimportante lalo na sa panahon ng lean months, ay masigurado natin na yung imported na bigas ay maganda ang presyuhan para di maapektuhan din yung presyo ng local na supply natin. Yung timing is really important to make sure natin na mapapanatili natin na matatag ang presyuhan ng bigas,' he said.
(It is very important, especially in the lean months, that we ensure that the price of important rice will not affect the price of our local supply. The timing is really important to make sure that we keep rice pricing stable.)
Assistance programs by the government, such as the implementation of the P20-per-kilo rice programs, continue regardless of the tariffs.
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. ordered the lowering of imported rice tariffs from 35% to 15% on June 20, 2024.
The decision faced backlash from several farmers' groups, who filed a petition for certiorari to declare the lowering of tariffs 'unconstitutional' and nullify the order.
In December 2024, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) also said that the lowered tariffs did not affect or lower the price of imported rice. — BM, GMA Integrated News
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
GMA Network
11 hours ago
- GMA Network
DTI releases price guide for school supplies ahead of S.Y. 2025
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on Friday released the price guide for school supplies in time for the upcoming school year opening in June. The department said prices of some items have been reduced to provide affordable options for parents and students. 'This 2025 price guide covers 195 stock keeping units (SKUs) across 12 product categories. Notably, 29 items have seen decreased prices compared to the previous year, with reductions ranging from PHP 1.00 to PHP 10.00,' the DTI said in a statement. The prices for four SKUs of notebook were cut between P5.00 to P10.00; for 24 SKUs of pad paper, prices have been slashed between P1.00 to P6.00; and a piece of pencil is now cheaper by P5.00. Hence, notebooks are priced from P15.00 to P52.00, pad paper ranges from P15.00 to P48.75, and pencils cost P11.00 to P24.00. Meanwhile, the price of SKUs for ballpens, erasers, and sharpeners remain unchanged. Pens are available from P3.00 to P33.00, sharpeners are priced at P15.00 to P69.00, and erasers remain priced at P4.50 to P20.00. Other school supplies like crayons, in various box sizes, range between P12.00 to P114.00. Rulers can be bought at P16.00 to P39.00. The DTI reminds the public to be careful when purchasing school supplies. Consumers must check the product labels, the number of leaves in notebooks and pad papers, among others. 'Every peso counts for Filipino families, especially during back-to-school season. This price guide is a promise that under this administration, no learner is left behind. We want every child, regardless of background, to step into the classroom with pride and readiness, and every parent to feel that the government is walking alongside them,' said Secretary Cristina Roque. — BAP, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
a day ago
- GMA Network
‘Smuggled' sugar shipments worth P9 million seized in Manila port
Authorities have intercepted two separate shipments of sugar, which lacked necessary permits, at the Port of Manila (POM) for violations of customs and importation rules. In a statement, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) said Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona, BOC Assistant Commissioner of the Post Clearance Audit Group Vincent Philip Maronilla, Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Group Juvymax Uy, and POM District Collector Alexander Gerard Alviar jointly led the inspection of the intercepted sugar shipments on Thursday, May 29, 2025. The BOC said the first operation was carried out on May 23, 2025, following a Pre-Lodgement Control Order issued by the BOC-POM. The Customs said a joint team from the BOC, SRA, DA, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), and other enforcement units examined two 20-foot container vans from Thailand containing 1,000 sacks of refined sugar. While the consignee was registered with the SRA, the BOC said the shipment lacked the required import allocation and clearance, rendering the importation unauthorized. The Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS)-POM recommended the issuance of a Warrant of Seizure and Detention (WSD) for violations of Section 117 (Regulated Importation and Exportation) in relation to Section 1113 of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), and Sugar Order No. 6, Series of 2022–2023. Another shipment, which arrived on April 29 at the POM from Thailand, involved two container vans of refined sugar imported 'without any permit or import allocation from the SRA.' The BOC said it examined the two abandoned 20-foot containers in coordination with the SRA, DA, Chamber of Customs Brokers Inc. (CCBI), Enforcement and Security Service (ESS) -POM, and CIIS-POM and found 1,040 bags labeled 'sweet mixed powder.' Both shipments of sugar are valued at approximately P9 million, according to the Customs. 'President Marcos Jr. has made it clear that the smuggling of agricultural commodities and other regulated goods will not be tolerated. These operations are a direct response to his marching orders to safeguard our borders and protect the welfare of the Filipino people,' said Rubio. In a separate statement, Tiu Laurel said, 'We cannot let these illicit trading practices undermine the agriculture sector and hurt our farmers, particularly those in the sugar industry.' 'The closer coordination among government agencies to clamp down on smuggling as well as the implementation of the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Law which doesn't allow bail should put fear on these illicit traders,' the Agriculture chief said. The DA chief instructed the SRA to blacklist the importers of the seized sugar shipments. The DA, through its Inspectorate and Enforcement office, last year seized P2.83 billion worth of smuggled farm goods, around P1 billion higher compared to the level in 2023. From January through May 19 this year, DA-IE already seized and condemned smuggled farm goods worth a total P407.6 million. — Ted Cordero/BM, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
a day ago
- GMA Network
BOC turns over 2,954 mishandled balikbayan boxes to DMW for distribution
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Thursday turned over 2,954 balikbayan boxes to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) for distribution to their intended recipients, the families of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). The turnover ceremony was held at the Port of Davao in Davao City. In a statement, the BOC said the balikbayan boxes were originally sent by OFWs to their loved ones but were left unclaimed after being mishandled and abandoned by unscrupulous freight forwarders. With the approval of the Department of Finance, the Customs said it officially declared the boxes forfeited and signed a Deed of Donation with the DMW. The DMW is now tasked with ensuring that the long-delayed packages will finally reach their intended recipients. The Migrant Workers Department has since partnered with a logistics provider to ensure the safe and prompt delivery of the boxes to their rightful beneficiaries, according to the BOC. The BOC said the ceremonial turnover followed months of coordination between the two agencies, which began in 2024. —VBL, GMA Integrated News
