News Details

DA Chief Urges Congress to Revise Rice Tariffication Law to Protect Farmers

NPO

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August 21, 2025

MANILA – Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. has urged lawmakers to back amendments to the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL), stressing that while the measure was well-intentioned, some provisions have failed to safeguard Filipino rice farmers.

Speaking before the House Committee on Agriculture, chaired by Quezon Rep. Wilfrido Mark Enverga, Tiu Laurel said the RTL’s full liberalization of rice imports has weakened the National Food Authority (NFA), stripping it of its power to regulate supply, stabilize prices, or act during crises—leaving farmers vulnerable to market forces.

“Rice is more than just a staple. It fuels our workforce, sustains our families, and symbolizes food security for over 112 million Filipinos,” he emphasized.

The DA chief warned that the influx of cheap imported rice has driven farmgate palay prices to unsustainable lows—as little as ₱8 per kilo last month—far below production costs. He also dismissed claims that the government’s ₱20-rice program was behind the price slump, calling such accusations “absurd and simply untrue.”

Citing NFA data, Tiu Laurel noted that palay prices began to recover after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced a temporary suspension of rice imports, set to start on September 1. The rebound, he said, proved that market controls—not subsidies—are key to stabilizing the industry.

“The real issue lies in the RTL itself,” he said. “As currently written, it does not reform the rice industry—it threatens to kill it.”

He called for smarter regulations, stronger data-driven decision-making, and a more active role for the NFA, which he said has the expertise and logistics needed to balance market interests with public welfare.

Tiu Laurel also expressed support for House Bill No. 1, spearheaded by Speaker Martin Romualdez, which seeks to amend the RTL and restore the government’s power to intervene in the rice market when necessary.

“Let us give our rice farmers a fair chance,” he concluded. “Let’s build a truly masaganang bagong Pilipinas.”

NPO News Team | DA-PR