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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Erwin Tulfo bats for return of NFA rice; seeks review of Rice Tarrification Law

Erwin Tulfo bats for return of NFA rice; seeks review of Rice Tarrification Law

Published Apr 29, 2024 07:06 am

At A Glance

  • House Deputy Majority Leader and ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo is urging the Department of Agriculture (DA) to review the Rice Tarrification Law (RTL) in order to reinstate the National Food Authority's (NFA) power to directly sell lower-priced rice to the market.

FB_IMG_1707595585445.jpgACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo (Facebook)

House Deputy Majority Leader and ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo is urging the Department of Agriculture (DA) to review the Rice Tarrification Law (RTL) in order to reinstate the National Food Authority’s (NFA) power to directly sell lower-priced rice to the market.

“A lot of our people are asking, kailan ba ibabalik ang NFA rice sa mga palengke? (when will NFA rice return to the markets?) That’s what they are looking for,” said Tulfo.

Tulfo issued this statement during a House Committee on Agriculture and Food briefing on the RTL’s implementation status.

Under Republic Act (RA) No. 11203 or the RTL, the NFA is prohibited from selling rice to the public as part of its stabilization function to the rice industry.

The agency is only allowed to sell directly to local government units (LGUs), which will then be in charge of selling rice to their constituents.

“Right now, ang bigas natin parang ginto ang presyo (the price of our rice is like gold). Unlike before, when NFA [was] selling rice sa palengke affordable binibili ng mga tao (in the markets what the people were buying was affordable),” Tulfo said.

He pointed out that when rice from the NFA was available, it was usually P10 to P15 cheaper than the price of commercial rice.

“By taking away the authority or the power of NFA to sell rice sa (to the) public at a lower cost, inalisan niyo rin ng kapangyarihan ang taongbayan na mahihirap na bumili ng murang bigas (you also take the power away from the poor people to buy cheap rice),” the solon stressed.

According to National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Director Nieva Natural, the NFA was barred by law from selling due to supposed issues in the agency’s governance that placed the government in debt.

Because of this, the NFA is left to prioritize the purchase of buffer stocks—which refers to the optimal level of rice inventory to be used for emergency situations and disaster relief programs.

“Ang trabaho na lang ng NFA ngayon maging inutil (the job of the NFA now is to be useless),” chimed Tulfo.

The broadcaster-turned-lawmaker noted that the RTL should be immediately “tinkered with” to revitalize the NFA’s previously vital role in Filipinos’ dining tables.

“There is an urgency, we cannot just sit back and relax while most of our kababayan (countrymen) cannot afford [rice], who are living under the minimum wage,” he said.

Related Tags

National Food Authority (NFA) DEPARTMEMT OF AGRICULTURE Erwin Tulfo rice industry
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