Rice bill okay likely, says Palace

Malacañang on Thursday said President Rodrigo Duterte is looking at “the greater good” and is leaning towards signing the rice tariffication bill — a move that will remove certain restrictions on rice importation.

The proposed law, which is aimed in further lowering the country’s inflation rate, is just waiting for the President’s signature for it to be enacted.

“He (Mr. Duterte) didn’t say (when he is signing), but I think it is forthcoming,” presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said, adding that discussions regarding rice tariffication were done during the Cabinet meeting the other night.

Panelo also talked about the meeting of the Chief Executive with stakeholders from the rice industry in the Palace, where farmers were trying to convince him to veto the proposed law.

“I don’t think the President will veto. I don’t think so. Because that was his position during the Cabinet meeting. He said it is for the greater interest and for the greater good,” the official noted.

“The President told them that, yes, they might be affected, but the overall welfare of the Filipinos is what he is concerned about. So, even if they are against it, the President will go on with it,” he added.

Once enacted, rice tariffication would let rice imports arrive freely in the country — with imposed tariffs of 30 to 50percent — after problems regarding the supply of the food staple hit the market therefore pushing the inflation rate to record highs last year.

The bill reached the Office of the President on 15 January 2019.

Duterte, last year, declared the bill as urgent amid the rice shortage and increasing rice prices.

Meanwhile, To have more understanding about President Duterte’s ongoing campaign against illegal drugs, the Department of Education is mulling including “drug education” in the public school curriculum.

Drug education for public school students was tackled during the Cabinet meeting Wednesday night, according to Panelo.