Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

House Deputy Majority Leader Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre is hoping that senators would empathize with the situation of hungry Filipinos and act on the proposed amendments to the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL). 

Acidre had this to say in a press conference Wednesday, May 15, as he noted that time was running out for Senate action on the crucial measure in the second regular session of the 19th Congress. 

“I hope that the Senate will join us, especially we have three more session days to go before we go on break for sine die. I hope that our senators, we appeal to their sense of empathy sa ating mga kababayan (for our countrymen) in ensuring ultimately…this is really about making sure na may pagkain sa bawat hapag-kainan ng bawat pamilyang Pilipino (that every Filipino family has food on their),” Acidre said. 

The House of Representatives' version of the amendments measure, embodied in House Bill (HB) No.10831, was approved on second reading in plenary Tuesday. On Wednesday, it was momentarily recalled to plenary for minor revision and then re-approved on second reading. 

HB No.10831seeks to revise the five-year-old RTL and in turn give Filipinos the choice of cheaper rice in the market from the National Food Authority (NFA). It restores old functions of the NFA before the regime of tarrification. 

But some senators have been lukewarm to this due to reported corruption in the agency. 

Acidre insisted that the revising the RTL to empower the NFA was a viable solution. His colleagues have said that there are enough safeguards in HB No.10831to address the senators' fear of corruption. 

“I think the passage of the RTL especially on the part of the Senate is an important step for them to prove na sila din ay kaisa sa paggawa ng solusyon (that they are also part of the solution),” he stressed. 

Acidre said that the House has taken a proactive stance of amending the RTL in order to stabilize rice prices, especially during inflation. 

“Clearly, this would ensure that there’s a built-in mechanism for competition lalo na kung mataas ang presyo (especially if prices are high). Nandyan ang NFA para magkaroon ng access ‘yung ating ating mga kababayan sa mas murang bigas,” Acidre said. 

(The NFA is there to give our countrymen access to cheaper rice.) 

The House is poised to approved HB No.10831 oh third and final reading next week.