MANILA – The Department of Agriculture (DA) is expediting the nationwide consultations on the comprehensive reform of the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL), aiming to bring down rice prices while ensuring that Filipino farmers receive fair compensation for their produce.
The regional consultative meetings, which will conclude next week, are designed to finalize the administration’s proposed amendments before submission to Congress. This effort follows President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to strengthen farmers’ livelihoods and guarantee affordable, high-quality rice for all Filipino households.
Momentum for the reforms surged after the 2025 Quinta Hearings in the House of Representatives, where lawmakers and stakeholders agreed that the 2024 amendments to the RTL (Republic Act 12078) were insufficient to address the persistent imbalance in the rice industry. The reform is part of the 44 priority measures endorsed by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) to synchronize the efforts of Congress and the Executive branch.
At the core of the proposed revisions are three major challenges: the decline of farm incomes due to cheap rice imports, the failure of retail prices to reflect import cost reductions, and the country’s increasing dependence on volatile international grain markets.
“We cannot allow our farmers to be the casualties of market inefficiencies and unchecked speculation,” said Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. “Our goal is a rice industry that rewards productivity, ensures stability, and protects both producers and consumers.”
The new administration bill, expected to serve as the foundation for the proposed Rice Industry and Consumer Empowerment (RICE) Act, will restore limited powers to the National Food Authority (NFA) to manage buffer stocks, regulate imports, and stabilize prices—without dismantling the principles of trade liberalization.
A highlight of the DA’s draft proposal is the creation of the Philippine Rice Industry Development Program (PRIDP), which will consolidate existing rice funds and allocate ₱30 billion annually from tariff revenues to strengthen productivity and climate resilience programs. It also includes the introduction of a flexible floor price for palay, ensuring fair returns for farmers, alongside affordability benchmarks and targeted rice subsidies for low-income consumers.
The final consultation meetings are scheduled in Cagayan de Oro City on October 27 and Quezon City on October 28, following earlier sessions in Iloilo City. The DA intends to submit the refined draft to Congress and the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office before the resumption of sessions on November 10, with lawmakers targeting to pass substitute bills in both chambers by year-end 2025.
“This is not just about rice prices—it’s about restoring balance, fairness, and dignity in our nation’s food system,” Secretary Tiu Laurel emphasized.
— NPO News Team | DA-PR
