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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Marcos urges Congress: Allow NFA to import rice to stabilize prices

Marcos urges Congress: Allow NFA to import rice to stabilize prices

Published May 25, 2024 01:25 am

At A Glance

  • The President said amending the RTL is just one of the measures undertaken by the governmen to improve the lives of Filipino farmers amid various challenges to their livelihood.

President Marcos has urged Congress to allow the National Food Authority (NFA) to import rice as doing so would lead to the stabilization of rice prices.

President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. (Malacañang photo)
President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. (Malacañang photo)

Marcos said this as the government works to amend the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL).

According to the President, allowing the NFA to import rice would help farmers and the public, especially consumers since it would stabilize prices in the market.

However, he pointed out that the RTL prohibits the NFA from importing rice.

“Kung pagbibigyan tayo ng ating Kongreso na makapag-import na [ang NFA], makikipagsabayan na ito. Ito naman talaga ang unang [dahilan] kung bakit tinayo ang NFA (If Congress would allow the NFA to import rice, it would make it competitive. This was the reason the NFA was created in the first place),” Marcos said.

The President said amending the RTL is one of the government’s ways of improving the lives of Filipino farmers amid various challenges to their livelihood.

“Marami tayong ginagawa (We’re doing a lot),” he said.

In addition to amending the RTLA, President Marcos said the government is looking for weather-proof varieties to strengthen the country’s production while the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) will provide pieces of machinery to farmers.

Marcos believes the government’s initiatives would streamline farm production, eliminating the need for middlemen.

For consumers, he said the government is fixing the ports, farm-to-market roads (FMR), and other infrastructures to improve the transport of all products of farmers and fishermen.

President Marcos said the value chain of agriculture is also being improved by strengthening production and providing machinery, market intelligence, and technical information to the sector.

The government is also providing farmers with fertilizers and pesticides to increase their output.

During typhoon season, the President said government financial assistance programs like the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) are implemented to aid needy farmers.

Related Tags

Bongbong Marcos Rice Tariffication Law National Food Authority President Marcos Rice prices
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