Senator Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday urged Malacanang to take back the Executive Order that lowers tariffs on imported rice as this will further burden our local rice farmers who have already experienced income losses and are now still suffering from lower profit margins since the implementation of the Rice Tariffication Law.
“I urge Malacanang to recall EO 135. Lowering imported rice tariffs introduces uncertainty that can derail much needed production and income recovery in the rice sector,” she said.
“Kung tumataas ang presyo ng bigas sa world market, ibig sabihin mas maraming bibili ng lokal na produksyon, maibabalik nito ang mga nawalang trabaho o kita dahil sa naunang pagbagsak ng presyo ng palay dahil sa implementation ng Rice Tariffication Law (RTL). Mabagal man, kahit paano ay nakakabawi ng kaunti ang ilan sa mga magsasaka, huwag na sana pigilan pa ang tuloy-tuloy nilang income recovery,” Hontiveros added.
President Rodrigo Duterte has signed on Saturday Executive Order No. 135 which lowers the Most Favored Nation (MFN) tariff rates for imported rice from 40% to 35%.
The Senator pointed out that rice prices are not really worrisome because there is ample supply capacity since many farmers continue to plant rice despite very low profit margins.
“There is modest increase in rice production. The seeds and fertilizers funded by the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) appropriations are already boosting production in some irrigated areas,” she said.
“Kaya hindi nakakabahala ang presyo ng bigas dahil mayroon tayong sapat na suplay. Hindi kailangang ibaba pa ang taripa,” Hontiveros stated.
In fact, Hontiveros explained, that the additional earnings from rice tariffs assure funding for RCEF that will help sustain and expand the areas benefiting from the Department of Agriculture production assistance, keeping rice supply and prices steady.
“Malaking tulong ang additional earnings mula sa nakokolektang taripa para pondohan ang mga programa ng DA para sa pagpapaunlad ng pagsasaka. Huwag na sana nating bawasan pa at ipagkait ito lalo sa local rice farmers na hindi pa naaabot ng mga programa,” Hontiveros added.
Hontiveros stressed that more than rice prices, jobs and livelihood of our local farmers are the issues that need to be addressed as the country continues to struggle with the adverse effects of economic recession.
Hontiveros noted that if the economic managers are concerned about inflation, they should pay attention to what is really causing it, which, according to the Senator, is the inflation in transport costs. “Mukhang misplaced ang priorities ng economic managers. If they are really worried, they should start looking into transportation costs which are causing the spike in inflation,” she said.
“Bakit hindi unahing solusyunan ang limitadong public transport that’s making it expensive to transport goods and services? Instead of lowering rice tariffs, they should be addressing problems concerning the PUV modernization program, a complex process for renewal of permits to operate and inter-LGU mobility restrictions,” Hontiveros furthered.
“Huwag sana nating hayaan na matulad ito sa isyu ng pork importation. Sa panahong naghihirap ang bansa, mas kailangan ng suporta at mga programa para sa mga lokal na industriya, kasama na ang rice industry. Unahin muna natin ang kapakanan ng ating magsasaka at ang pagpapayabong ng lokal na agrikultura,” she concluded.