Marcos to certify as urgent Rice Tariffication Law amendments

President Marcos said he would certify as urgent the bill proposing to amend the five-year-old Rice Tariffication Law (RTL), saying the government should have some form of influence in how rice is being sold in the country.

In an interview in Pasay City on Monday, May 6, the President said amending the National Food Authority (NFA) charter and the RTL would give the government the ability to have a say when retail prices of rice go up.

“Mako-control natin, meron tayong influence doon sa presyuhan sa pagbili ng palay at sa pagbenta ng bigas (We can control and we’ll have an influence in the price of the selling of rice). So that’s what we are going to do,” he said.

“I think it justifies the urgent certification,” he added.

According to the President, the price of rice is increasing because the government has no control over it.

“Ang problema kasi kaya tumataas iyong presyo ng bigas, dahil ang mga trader ay nagko-compete (The problem why the price of rice is increasing is because traders are competing),” he said.

“Pataasan sila ng presyuhan sa pagbili ng palay at wala tayong control doon (They want to buy rice at a higher price and we have no control over that),” he added.

JUST IN: President Marcos to certify as urgent the bill amending the Rice Tariffication Law. (MPC pool) @manilabulletin pic.twitter.com/YTKKHfzTZ6 — Argyll Cyrus Geducos (@argyll_mb) May 6, 2024

Signed by former president Rodrigo Duterte in 2019, the RTL lifted quantitative restrictions on rice and introduced tariffs to protect local rice producers.

It established the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), which enhances rice productivity and supports farmers. It also mandated the NFA to manage a buffer stock sourced solely from local farmers.

On April 30, the House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture and Food started its evaluation of the RTL’s effectiveness on the country’s agriculture sector.

The panel’s chairman, Quezon 1st District Rep. Mark Enverga, highlighted the need to revisit the law before its mandatory review this year.

“The clamor to revisit the law is overwhelming… We are considering the proposals to look into the gaps, the challenges, and the need to further enhance the effectiveness of the law,” he said.

“We cannot deny the fact that the law has accorded millions of rice farmers the much-needed assistance. However, the law is always challenged when it comes to rice supply and rice prices,” he added.

— Argyll Cyrus Geducos