Senator: Rice tariffs law to help farmers become competitive

A senator on Sunday allayed fears that the rice tariffication law would deal a hard blow to farmers and the local industry, saying that it has a provision allocating funds to help local producers to compete with rice-producing neighbors.

In an interview on Super Radyo dzBB, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said that while the law intends to address low rice supply through non-restricted importation, it also makes sure local farmers will become competitive.

"May provision ang rice tariffication law na P10 billion allocation or the Rice Competitiveness  Enhancement Fund. Hindi pababayaan ng pamahalan ang farmers," he said.

He pointed out that there is enough number of rice-producing provinces that would be able to compete if given necessary government support.

Gatchalian: Meron tayong tinatawag na rice producing provinces, 60+ iyan na rice producing provinces na higit sa kalahati ay very competitive na. Ibig sabihin ang kanilang presyo ay kayang lumaban sa Thailand, Vietnam at kahit murang ipasok dito (ang bigas) kaya nilang lumaban.

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) February 24, 2019

Likewise, he said that the fund will be spent on farm inputs and mechanization. He pointed out that it is not a form of a subsidy to bring down prices, but the needed assistance fund to make the farmers competitive.

Some lawmakers and critics oppose the rice tariffs law, saying that it would result in the country's dependence on imports of  the staple.

It could also throw local producers out of the farms, being unable to compete.

The law allows private sector traders to import rice without limits as long as they pay the 35-percent tariff and secure a permit from the Bureau of Plant Industry.

“Ang ating magsasaka  ay hindi pa handa sa ngayon na mag-compete laban sa magsasaka ng ibang bansa, e papatayin natin ang rice farming industry,” Magdalo party-list Representative Garry Alejano  said in last week's  press conference in Quezon City.

Department of Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol shared Alejano fears, saying the the rice tariffs law would be detrimental to the farmers and the country's food security. —LBG, GMA News