Sen. Imee Marcos joined protesters on Tuesday, Sept. 26 in front of the Department of Finance (DOF) office calling for the removal of National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan and Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno.

"Wala eh, lahat ng barkada ko andito eh. Lahat ng kaibigan natin na mambubukid, mangingisda - lahat ng nanggaling sa Northern Luzon hanggang sa Central Luzon pati barkada galing Southern Luzon andito po (All of my friends are here. All of my farmer, fishermen friends- all from Northern Luzon up to Central Luzon even friends from Southern Luzon are here)," she said.

"Nakikisuporta lang ako, may dala akong tubig, nagdala na rin ako ng tinapay palibhasa wala ng bigas, ayan, para lang makatulong sa kanila tutal hindi papayag si BongBong dito. Sigurado ako diyan dahil lagot tayo sa tatay ko (I came to express my support, I brought water, I also brough bread since there's no rice, just to help them since Bongbong [Marcos] will not allow this. I'm sure of that because we'll have to answer to my father)," she added.

The protesters were calling for the removal of Diokno and Balisacan, opposing their proposal to lower the current 35 percent import tariffs on rice.

The DOF recommended a temporary decrease in rice import tariff rates from 35 percent to a range of zero percent to 10 percent for both ASEAN and the most-favored nation (MFN). This received support from NEDA, the Foundation for Economic Freedom (FEF), and the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII).

Marcos also recalled his father's stance regarding economists when it comes to rice.

"Halos sinasabi niya na huwag na raw makinig sa mumbo jumbo ng mga ekonomista 'pagkat ang totoo, iba ang bigas (He was almost telling not to listn to the mumbo jumbo ang econimists because the reality is, rice has a different power)," she said.

PBBM reducing rice tariffs

Marcos expressed confidence that his brother, President Marcos will not allow DOF's proposal to push through.

"Ah wala, sigurado ako na hindi 'yun papayag (I'm sure he will not allow that)," Marcos said.

However, she expressed concern over the upcoming month-long break of Congress. The President can lower tariffs through an executive order, as long as Congress is not in session. Republic Act (RA) 11203, or the "Rice Tariffication Law,” grants the President the ability to modify rice import duty rates within set boundaries.

However, this authority can only be exercised when Congress is not in session, and any adjustments made will take effect 15 days after they are published.

"Ang nakakatakot diyan ay palulusutin 'yung reduction o 'di kaya zero tariff na importasyon sa kasagsagan ng anihan. Sobra naman sila (What's alarming is that they will let the reduction or zero tariff get through during the harvest season. That's too much)," Marcos said.

"Nag-aani na ang lahat. Magsisimula na ang halos lahat ng bukid at ang kasagsagan niyan ay sa katapusan, ngayon itong linggo na ito hanggang buong Oktubre. Bakit naman sila mag-i-import ngayon? Pambihira naman (Everyone's harvesting. Almost all farmers will begin and the peak will be the end of the month, this week and the whole October. Why will they import now? That's unbelievable)," she added.

To address the rise in the price of rice, the President issued Executive Order (EO) No. 39 which mandated a price cap on the staple grain. Under it, the mandated the price ceiling for regular milled rice at P41 per kilogram, while the price cap for well-milled rice is P45 per kilogram.

But among the recommendations of the administration's economic team is the temporary decrease in the current 35 percent rice import tariff rates to address the rising prices of rice.