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Rice tariff cut a stab in the back
By J.Lo
"NEDA has deprived industry stakeholders of their right to genuine consultation and due process," Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) national manager Raul Montemayor said cutting rice tariffs to 15 percent is stab in the back of country's three million rice farmers and grain industry.
National Economic and Development Authority Board, chaired by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., approved new Comprehensive Tariff Program for 2024-2028, includes reduction of rice tariff for in- and out-quota rates from 35 to 15 percent.
"Normally, proposed tariff changes undergo hearings conducted by Tariff Commission…recommendations are then given to NEDA Board… procedure was not followed before lowering of rice tariff," he explained.
Montemayor recalled during 2023 Senate hearings on ratification of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership trade treaty, the executive branch assured rice farmers rice and other sensitive agricultural commodities would not suffer diminution in tariff protection for duration of agreement.
"That honorable commitment has been rendered worthless by NEDA Board, our experience since trading in rice industry was liberalized under Rice Tariffication Law and tariffs were lowered also on non-ASEAN rice imports, it has not been salutary…our dependence on imports from volatile world market has grown from 10 percent of total domestic consumption to around 25 percent…rice retail prices have risen," he said.
Claims that 15 percent rice tariff will provide major and lasting relief to consumers are "more shot in the dark than probable result," Montemayor said.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. met with industry stakeholders as part of Marcos' directive to reduce retail price of rice in the country.
"President Marcos wants more affordable rice prices to ease financial strain on consumers, particularly poor, as well as relieve price pressures that have kept inflation elevated and interest rates high," Tiu Laurel said.
Marcos has lowered rice tariffs until 2028 to bring down rice prices to P29 per kilo, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said.
Tiu Laurel said Department of Agriculture (DA) has started trial selling of rice at P29 per kilo at select Kadiwa centers.
During consultation, rice industry stakeholders vowed to cooperate in lowering rice prices.
Newly approved tariff rates aim to ensure access and affordability while balancing interests of consumers and local producers, Balisacan said.
This would benefit poor households, including beneficiaries of government's conditional cash transfer program or Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, he said.
Cutting rice tariffs from 35 to 15 percent will substantially reduce rice prices in market, Speaker Martin Romualdez said.
"Import levy reduction and direct sale of imported rice by government through its Kadiwa centers should bring down retail price of rice substantially, especially for consumers," Romualdez said.
Farmers should not worry about government assistance they receive through Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund set up under Rice Tariffication Law, he noted.
As of May, fund had accumulated P16 billion from import tariff collections, he added.
"This means government has enough funds to help farmers, while it is trying to bring down rice prices through import tariff cut and direct Kadiwa sales," he said.
House Deputy Minority Leader Mujiv Hataman also welcomed tariff cuts.
"We welcome the executive order being prepared to reduce tariff rates on rice and other commodities, as this also aims to reduce price of rice in the market… lower prices, the better for everybody," he said.
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