(MANILA BULLETIN)

House Speaker Martin Romualdez assured the public Monday, June 24 that the effects of the rice imports tariff slash would soon be felt, possibly before President Marcos' third State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 22.

"We want this to happen as soon as possible. That's why we've been meeting and pushing for immediate action. Hindi pwede na aantok-antok tayo, patulog-tulog lang (We can't be sleepy and tardy), we have to be always on the ball," Romualdez said.

On Monday, Romualdez and fellow ranking House members met with Philippine Rice Industry Stakeholders Movement (PRISM) officials at the Manila Golf and Country Club in Makati City.

There, the rice traders committed to help the Marcos administration lower the price of rice--the country’s staple food--by as much as P9 per kilo by next month.

Specifically, they predict the following prices by July and August: P45 to P46 per kilo for well-milled rice, 25 percent broken, which is typically consumed by ordinary Filipinos; and P47 to P48 per kilo for premium rice, 5 percent broken, usually consumed by the middle class.

Currently, rice retails anywhere from P50 to P55.

President Marcos recently issued Executive Order (EO) No. 62, which reduced the tariff on imported rice from 35 percent to 15 percent.

PRISM is a group composed of various stakeholders across the rice value chain from seed growers, farmers, millers to traders, importers, and retailers.

The Speaker stressed the urgency of the situation as he noted the daily struggles of Filipino families. "Every day, as every Filipino family has to purchase, let's say, two kilos of rice, we know and we can feel the hardships of our fellow Filipinos," he said.

"That's why we've sprung into action. We want to meet this head-on. It would be highly desirable for this to happen even before the SONA, and I don't think it's impossible. We will all work together to make it happen as soon as possible," added the Leyte 1st district congressman.

Despite the significant tariff cut, the Speaker assured local farmers of continuing government support and to improve their productivity as there are sufficient revenues to implement these programs.

House Committee on Appropriations Chairman Ako-Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, who wax a part of the meeting, said that about P22 billion under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) was available for this purpose. The RCEF is sourced from the tariffs.

Romualdez--whose moniker is "Mr. Rice"--also mentioned long-term government programs to spur local rice production, such as solar irrigation, fertigation, and convergence of flood control funds for multi-use such as irrigation, hydro-power and bulk water, among others.

House Deputy Majority Leader for Communications ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo and House Committee on Agriculture and Food Chairman Quezon 1st district Rep. Wilfrido Mark Enverga also attended Monday's meeting.

PRISM founders Rowena Sadicon, Orly Manuntag and National Food Authority (NFA) Officer-in-Charge (OIC)-Administrator Larry Lacson took part in the meeting.

“Maraming salamat po kay Speaker at sa lahat ng congressmen dito sa pagkakaroon po namin ng magandang pag-uusap tungkol po doon sa presyo ng bigas na mapaabot po natin sa market lalong-lalo na sa mga retailers po natin all over the Philippines,” Manuntag said.

(Thank you to the Speaker and to all the congressmen present here for facilitating this discussion on rice prices, which we will relay to the market especially to our retailers all over the Philippines.)

Marcos will deliver his SONA at the House of Representatives.