(Keith Bacongco/MANILA BULLETIN)

Following the Palace-ordered tariff cut on rice imports, House Deputy Minority Leader and Basilan lone district Rep. Mujiv Hataman says he is mulling the filing of a measure that would enhance the protection and increase subsidies for Filipino farmers.

In a statement on Friday, June 7, Hataman expressed worries that local farmers will feel the brunt of the tariff reduction since it will pave the way for increased competition in the market.

“Sa inaasahang pagbaba ng presyo ng imported na bigas dahil sa pagbaba ng taripa, sana ay bigyang proteksyon ng pamahalaan ang ating mga maliliit na magsasaka, dahil ang maliit nilang kinikita ay baka mabawasan pa at di kayanin ang kompetisyon sa merkado, he explained.

(With the expected drop in the price of imported rice due to the drop in tariffs, I hope the government will give protection to our small farmers because their meager income could shrink further and they will not be able to compete in the market.)

President Marcos recently approved the reduction of the tariff on imported rice from 35 percent to 15 percent.

The government expects the price of rice to drop to as low as P29 per kilo with measures such as these.

“Kapag bumaba ang presyo ng bigas sa merkado, baka hindi na makasabay ang ating mga magsasaka. Kung matutupad ang target ng ating gobyerno na pababain ang presyo ng bigas sa P29 per kilo, baka di na makabenta ang ating mga rice farmers,” argued Hataman.

(When the price of rice in the market drops, our farmers may not be able to keep up. If our government's target of lowering the price of rice to P29 per kilo is fulfilled, our rice farmers may not be able to make a sale anymore.)

Hataman said the government should not only increase financial subsidies to rice farmers but also include them in financial assistance programs.

He specifically cited the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) and the Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP), both under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

“Malaking tulong ang kanilang kakailanganin para makipag-kumpetensya sa merkado (They will need a lot of help to compete in the market),” he stressed.

Hataman also noted that the National Food Authority (NFA) should only buy from local farmers.

This, in the event the agency regains its mandate to offer cheaper rice under the proposed amendments to the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL).

“Hiling din natin sa kasalukuyang administrasyon, i-prioritize natin ang ating rice farmers kapag bumibili ng bigas ang pamahalaan (We also request the current administration to prioritize our rice farmers when the government buys rice). This should be a matter of national policy,” said Hataman.

“At habang ginagawa natin ito, sana ay paigtingin ng pamahalaan ang competitiveness programs nito para sa ating mga rice farmers sa pamamagitan ng teknolohiya at mas murang paraan ng pagsasaka para sa long-term na solusyon sa ating problems sa food security,” he added.

(And while we are doing this, I hope the government will intensify its competitiveness programs for our rice farmers through technology and cheaper farming methods for the long-term solution to our food security problems.)