Finance Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno brushed off the farmers' group's demand for President Marcos' two economic managers to resign, wishing them a delightful weekend instead.

Diokno, who was accompanying the president in Singapore, chose not to directly respond to the call for his and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan's removal from their positions.

On Friday, Sept. 15, Samahanag Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) Executive Director Jayson Cainglet, read a joint statement on behalf of various agricultural groups, urging the ousting of Diokno and Balisacan.

This appeal came about after the government's economic managers proposed a reduction in the tariff rate on rice imports as a means to address the skyrocketing prices of the staple food item.

“Today, we stand together to oppose, in the strongest terms, the efforts of Secretaries Diokno and Balisacan to serve the death sentence on rice farmers and other industry stakeholders by cutting or eliminating tariffs – our last refuge,” Cainglet said.

“The petition at hand is not for the welfare of consumers. Any claims about consumer benefits are at best, debatable. In reality, they are doormats to a sinister agenda. The rice farmers are the intended victims of the petition,” he added.

Diokno simply responded to SINAG's call by saying, "Have a wonderful weekend!"

To recall, Diokno said the economic team recommended a temporary decrease in the current 35 percent rice import tariff rates to address the rising prices of rice.

The proposed reduction would range from zero percent to 10 percent for both ASEAN and the most-favored nation (MFN), according to the finance chief.

Last Sept. 5, Balisacan also said the government was considering the reduction of import tariffs for rice as a measure to address the significant increase in the price of the staple food.

Balisacan called for a review of the 35 percent tariff on rice in order to reduce consumer costs while considering the impact on local producers.

“To partially counterbalance the rise in global prices and alleviate the impact on consumers and households, we may implement a temporary and calibrated reduction in tariffs,” the NEDA chief said in a statement.

In August, the inflation rate for rice increased to 8.7 percent from 4.2 percent in July due to lower grain output caused by El Niño and the export bans imposed by major rice exporters like India and Myanmar.