Following the publication of news reports that Mindanao Senator Manny Pacquiao has moved for the review of the Rice Tariffication Law, I travelled to General Santos City from Kidapawan last night to provide him additional inputs.
As the former Secretary of Agriculture and a farmer myself, I have a deep understanding of the flaws of the RTL and the improvements which could be made to ensure that our rice farmers are not injured.
Among the points I raised last night were:
1. Rice imports should only be at a volume needed to fill the supply shortfall;
2. An adjustable tariff schedule should be implemented so that when there is an oversupply, the tariff could be increased to levels where importing rice would not be profitable.
3. The President should be given the power to increase rice import tariffs even when Congress is in session. The current RTL virtually ties the hands of the President.
4. The apportionment of the RCE Funds should be amended to prioritize the four most important factors to improve productivity – irrigation, fertilization, post-harvest facilities, especially dryers and hybrid or high yielding seeds.
5. The provision which emasculates the National Food Authority and turns it into a simple rice buffer stocking agency should be revisited. The government must never surrender its regulatory powers over a very important commodity, rice.
These were the issues that I and other key officials of DA, the PCAF and farmer stakeholders raised during the Senate deliberation on their version of the RT bill but our voices were drowned out.
Now that the farmers are crying, we hope they will heed the proposal of Sen. Pacquiao for a review of the RTL.
After all, laws are made for the welfare and well-being of the people
#listentofarmerscries!
#protectfoodproducers!
(Photos by Mayette Tudlas, MinDA OC )
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