The Department of Agriculture (DA) has garnered strong support in the Senate for its proposal to amend the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) to modernize and future-proof the country’s P385-billion rice industry.

Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, expressed his full support for the initiative in a briefing on Monday at the DA office, where Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. outlined the risks facing the sector unless the law is revised.

Laurel cited mounting challenges, including the influx of cheaper and higher quality imports, shifting consumer preferences, unregulated importation, and reduced milling and drying capacity following the redefined role of the National Food Authority (NFA).

He also pointed out the DA’s limited authority — shared with the NFA — to stabilize markets, manage buffer stocks, and set a floor price for palay.

The meeting followed a similar dialogue with Quezon Rep. Mark Enverga, chair of the House Committee on Agriculture, whose input helped strengthen the DA’s call for a temporary halt to rice importation. This led to Malacañang’s announcement of a two-month import freeze beginning 1 September.

“Our fighting target is to get these proposed amendments to the RTL enacted into law before the start of the harvest season in March next year. If we can convince President Marcos to certify a bill that will include all these amendments as urgent, then we should get this passed sooner,” Laurel said.

“And with this visit of Senator Pangilinan, we are confident we can secure the backing of the Senate for these amendments that would ensure the modernization of the rice industry and the overall agriculture sector, securing a better future for our hardworking farmers and fisherfolk,” he said.

At the House of Representatives, Speaker Martin Romualdez has filed House Bill No. 1 — the RICE Act —which contains the revisions sought by the DA.

For his part, Pangilinan said Laurel’s vision aligns with his own goal of a food-secure Philippines and a more prosperous agriculture sector.

“We don’t only share the same name, we also share the same vision for Philippine agriculture. We have the same priorities, especially the revision of the Rice Tariffication Law,” Pangilinan said.

“We need to fix a lot of things in the current RTL, as well as improve the provision of direct support and extension services for farmers and fisherfolk, down to the grassroots level,” he said, underscoring the need to strengthen cooperatives to boost productivity and yields.

The two officials also discussed the Sagip Saka program, a measure authored by Pangilinan to promote sustainable, modern agriculture by helping farmers and fisherfolk increase their incomes and build stronger public-private partnerships.

Pangilinan has urged Congress to act swiftly, noting the limited time left for the Marcos administration to carry out much-needed agricultural reforms.