The team of Vice President Leni Robredo and her running mate Sen. Kiko Pangilinan has sought the review of the Rice Tariffication Law to identify and amend its provisions that are detrimental to farmers.
Former Quezon Rep. Erin Tañada III, campaign manager of the Team Robredo-Pangilinan senatorial slate, said the comprehensive review of the law must be done because it has affected the lives of the country’s food producers.
“Kaya dapat silipin natin kung bakit nahihirapan ang mga magsasaka dahil sa batas na ito (This is why we have to look into reasons why the farmers are experiencing hardships because of this law),” he added.
During a campaign sortie in Nueva Ecija on Tuesday, March 22, Robredo underscored the need for the review of the law.
"Para po sa atin, 'yung idehiya ng pagbubukas ng market, maayos naman 'yun, pero kailangan ihanda muna natin 'yung mga farmers natin para makapag-compete (For me, the ideology of opening the market is good, but we have to prepare the farmers so they can compete)," Robredo said.
"We have been calling government to review, suspend, tapos i-review, kasi ... halos wala nang kinikita (ang farmers) dahil sa presyo ng mga produkto (then review because ...they (the farmers) don’t earn anymore due to the prices of products)," she said.
Tañada cited there is nothing wrong with a review, "kasi wala naman batas na nakaukit sa bato (because there is no law engraved in stone).”
“The provision of the law that helps, i-maximize po natin (let us maximize it). The provisions that hurt, i-minimize po natin (let us minimize it). Pero ang (But the) bottomline, palakasin ang sektor ng pagsasaka (let us strengthen the agricultural sector),” he said.
In February 2019, Congress passed the Rice Tariffication Law that removed the “quantitative restriction” or the ban on the import of rice from other countries.
This law lifted the sole authority given to the National Food Authority (NFA) on rice importation as it allowed private traders to import rice as long as they pay the corresponding tariffs or taxes to the government.
Any amount of rice from countries belonging to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) can be imported at 35 percent tariff and at 50 percent tariff for rice from non-ASEAN countries.
Former Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat Jr., who is vying for a Senate seat under the Robredo-Pangilinan slate, said Congress must examine the implementation of the law.
“Kailangan silipin ‘yung tamang pagbubuwis. Totoo bang nakakatulong ito sa mga magsasaka at sa mga pamilyang Filipino (We have to take a look at right taxation. Does it help the farmers and Filipino families)?" Baguilat, whose father was a retired DA official, said, noting that the government should also look into the distribution of the promised fund to the farmers as well.
"Baka artificial lang din ang bagsak presyo na kalaunan ay tataas din kapag monopolyado na ang merkado (The low prices now might just be artificial but the prices will increase once the market is monopolized),” said Baguilat.
“Paano rin ang katas ng rice tariffication. Ito po ba ay naibabalik sa magsasaka ng mahusay? Ang dibidendo bang ipinangako ay ibinigay sa wastong halaga at tamang panahon (What about the revenues from the rice tariffication. Is this being returned to the farmers efficiently? Are the promised dividends being given correctly and at the right time)?,” he asked.
Under the law, a Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund would be sourced from tariff revenues, and at least P10 billion should be allocated annually, for six years, to support local rice farmers.