What happens if Senate sits on Rice Tariffication Law amendments bill? Enverga answers 

Quezon 1st district Rep. Wilfrido Mark Enverga (Contributed photo)

The proposed bill amending the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) is moving swiftly in the House of Representatives and is expected to be approved on third and final reading before sine die adjournment on May 22. 

But what happens if the other legislative chamber, the Senate, doesn't reciprocate the action of the House? The short answer is, nothing much. 

"Well of course that is beyond us, we cannot compel our counterparts and just the same," House Committee on Agriculture and Food Chairman, Quezon 1st district Rep. Wilfrido Mark Enverga said in a press conference Monday, May 13. 

"Hindi naman nila kami mako-compel duon sa kanilang actions (Threy cannot compel us with their actions either), but we hope that through dialogue, we could somehow thresh some of the disagreeing provisions," Enverga said. 

Under Philippine Congress' bicameral set-up, the filing of a measure must be mirrored by the two chambers and then end in its approval. Otherwise, the measure can't be enacted. 

Some members of the 24-member Senate are lukewarm to the House's proposed amendments to Republic Act (RA) No.11203 or the RTL, particularly the provisions to empower or restore old functions of the National Food Authority (NFA). They claimed that the agency is corruption magnet. 

The 300-plus strong House is banking on the RTL amendments to pull down the price of rice to P30 per kilo or lower. 

This apparent impasse notwithstanding, Enverga is hopeful that the House leadership could still broker a solution with the Senate.

"Of course we believe that through Speaker Martin Romualdez siguro alam namin na kakayanin naman po niya sigurong madaan sa magandang usapan (we know he can work  out something through dialogue)," he said. 

"We hope also that the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO) will also help us out to 

somehow get into an agreement. We’re hopeful na ganuon po ang mangyayari (that will actually happen)." 

The agriculture committee chairman assured the senators that the amendments bill includes sufficient safeguards in restoring the power of the NFA to stabilize rice prices and regulate the supply of the staple food. 

The House began plenary debates on the RTL amendments bill on Monday afternoon. 

Congress will adjourn the second regular session of the 19th Congress on May 22.