MANILA (November 18) — The passage of the Rice Tariffication Bill will give farmers “a fighting chance” by boosting their productivity and ensuring that they become competitive with other farmers from neighboring ASEAN countries.
Senator Cynthia Villar, principal author of the bill which was approved on third and final reading last week, said the move will not only stabilize prices and supply of rice in the market but will also save tons of palay from wastage and help boost farmers’ productivity.
The Rice Tariffication Bill amends Republic Act 8178, otherwise known as the Agricultural Tariffication Act by removing import quotas on rice and replacing it with a 35 percent tariff.
“I will not agree to liberalize the importation of rice without providing any help to the farmers. Talo tayo ngVietnam at Thailand in terms of competitiveness that is why we have to help our farmers to be competitive as soon as possible,” she said.
Villar emphasized that additional funds and programs are needed to help farmers mechanize and ultimately lower the cost of producing palay.
With a vote of 14 affirmative, zero negative and no abstention, the Senators approved the bill and replaces the quantitative import restriction on rice with tariffs. The Bill also incorporates a package of support programs for Filipino farmers.
Under the bill, a 35 percent duty will be imposed on imports coming from the Association of South East Asian Nations member states and 50 percent for non-ASEAN member states. It also aimed at averting sanctions from the World Trade Organization if the country does not do away with quantitative restrictions on rice and convert to tariff protection.
Earlier, President Rodrigo Duterte certified the measure as “urgent” to enable the government to respond to inflation.- Jiann Padillo/ NewsLine
