Cheaper rice to flood market soon

While most are upbeat about the repercussions of the Rice Tariffication Law, this farm land in Lubao, Pampanga is all ready for the harvest season. ROMAN PROSPERO

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on Tuesday announced that cheaper rice will be available in the market starting mid-March or by the time imported rice starts arriving in the country.

In a televised interview, DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez said the price of imported rice could be as low as P32 per kilo and upon the effectivity of the law by 5 March, rice imports will be flowing in the country.

“So give it at least one week or two weeks, or by middle of March to end of March, rice imports will be arriving to fill the rice supply in the country,” Lopez said.

It was announced that tariffed regime on rice imports will begin on 5 March as well as the transfer of the National Food Authority to the Department of Agriculture.

Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo has confirmed last week that President Rodrigo Duterte approved the measure imposing a 35-percent tariff on imports from neighbors in Southeast Asia.

The bill allows unlimited importation of rice as long as private sector traders secure a phytosanitary permit from the Bureau of Plant Industry and pay the 35-percent tariff on shipments from Southeast Asia.

But it has drawn criticisms, especially from farmer groups, saying it is “equivalent to a death sentence for the local rice industry and rice farmers.”

Lopez assured the public the government would provide assistance to local farmers.

Meanwhile, Malacañang on Tuesday vowed transparency in the use of the P10-billion Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) as safeguard against corruption.

“Good governance is the hallmark of the Duterte administration and the President has zero tolerance against corruption and wastage of taxpayers’ money. We continue to exercise accountability and transparency in all levels of the bureaucracy,” Panelo said.

Signed by President Duterte on 14 February, Republic Act 11203 or the Rice Tariffication Act lifts the quantitative restrictions on rice and allow private traders to import the commodity from countries of their choice.

The law also earmarks P10 billion for the RCEF, of which P5 billion will be allotted to farm mechanization, P3 billion to seedlings and P1 billion to expanded rice credit assistance and the fund intends to ensure that rice imports won’t drown out the agriculture sector and rob farmers of their livelihood.