President Marcos signed into law on Monday, Dec. 9, the law amending the Agricultural Tariffication Act (ATA) to make the country’s rice industry more competitive.

In signing the Republic Act No. 12078, Marcos said it is an urgent response to episodes of rice supply shortage in the country, and aims to ensure that farmers gain steady access to resources they need to succeed.

He said the law amending Republic Act 11203, or the Rice Tariffication Law, seeks to extend the implementation of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) until 2031 and increase its funding from P10 billion to P30 billion annually.

"With the expiration of the original six-year plan for RCEF fast approaching, it became clear that we needed to extend and strengthen the program. And this is where this law comes in, extending the program to 2031, and significantly increasing its funding from the original P10 billion to P30 billion annually," Marcos said in his speech.

"This will enable us to do much more for our farmers, ensuring that they have the resources that they need to succeed and to make the rice industry even more competitive," he added.

The President also highlighted that the law will help ensure that the price of rice remains affordable and accessible to every Filipino as the Department of Agriculture (DA) will now be empowered to take the necessary actions to stabilize the market in cases of sudden rice shortages or price hikes.

"Furthermore, this law also empowers the DA to maintain stricter oversight of the rice industry. This ensures that the rice reaching our markets have complied with quality standards and regulations," the President said.

The Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) will also be able to inspect rice warehouses and manage a national database to track grain storage, safeguarding the country's food supply and ensuring its safety for the public, he added.

Under the law, the Seed Program and the Mechanization Program will also receive enhanced support to provide more farmers with access to high-quality seeds to boost their yields.

The law also places significant emphasis on reducing post-harvest losses, Marcos said.

"By preventing up to 375,000 tons of milled rice from being wasted annually, we can help feed an additional 3.4 million Filipinos each year for the next six years—improving food security and making rice more accessible to everyone," he said.

The Agricultural Tariffication Act was among the three measures signed by the President on Monday.