Stakeholders’ consultations DA HOLDS REGN’L CONFABS ON RICE LIBERALIZATION IRR

By Manny Piñol

The Department of Agriculture (DA) will hold four regional consultations with the stakeholders of the Rice Industry starting next week to explain the details of the Rice Liberalisation and Tariffication Law and seek inputs needed to craft the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).

The decision to hold a series of stakeholders consultations was made yesterday during the conference of all DA Regional Directors and regional rice program coordinators, officials of PhilRice, PhilMech and the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) which will play critical roles in the implementation of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF).

The face-to-face consultations will include leaders of rice farmers’ groups and other rice industry stakeholders, including feed millers who rely the local supply of rice bran for their feed production.

While the Rice Liberalisation and Tariffication Law has been signed and could no longer be amended, the law requires consultations with the stakeholders to gather inputs which would contribute to the crafting of an IRR needed to implement the law.

The group crafting of the IRR is led by the National Economic Development Authority with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the DA as members.

The schedule of the consultations is as follows:

– Feb. 26, Tuesday – For the Northern Luzon Cluster to be held at the Philippine Carabao Centre Conference Centre in Muñoz, Nueva Ecija;

– Feb. 27, Wednesday – Southern Luzon Cluster to be held at the DA Regional Research Centre in Lipa, Batangas;

– Feb. 28, Thursday – Mindanao Cluster in Davao City;

– Mar. 1, Friday – Visayas Cluster in Iloilo City.

The inputs provided by the stakeholders during the regional consultations will be collated by the DA Policy and Planning Office and will be submitted to the NEDA during the NFA Council Meeting scheduled on March 5.

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(Image and photos provided by the DA-AFID).