Farmers urge winning bets to review rice tariffication law, stop illegal land conversion

The Central Luzon Organic Rice Producers Association (CLORPA) on Thursday urged winning candidates — both proclaimed and who have yet to be proclaimed — to come up with solutions to help low-income farmers in the prospect of losing their livelihood.

On GMA News TV's Balitanghali, CLORPA chairperson Liza Sacdalan said farmers and laborers have expressed concern over the impact of the rice tariffication law on the farm-gate price of palay.

"Actually, hindi lang po sa Plaridel, laganap po. Pumunta ka ng Bulacan, Pampanga, pumunta ka ng Nueva Ecija, nakalulungkot po dahil inaasahan ng magsasaka dahil ngayon makakaahon sila, sa mga bayaring utang, pero paano makakabayad kung halos break even lang yung inani nila pagkatapos yung presyo ganito kababa, eh paano po makabubuwelo ang magsasaka?" she said.

Many of them, Sacdalan added, have already resorted to other forms of livelihood due to their low income.

"Marami po sa ating mga farmers and laborers ang humahanap na po ng ibang trabaho, na sa construction na sila. Wala na po kayong makuhang laborers ngayon. napakaliit naman po kung maka-porsyento man sila ng konti doon sa mga pinaghihirapan nila sa mga bukirin, tapos ibebenta muna lamang sa napakamurang halaga, wala na talagang income na papasok sa kanila," she said.

The Rice Tarrification Law is envisioned to lower prices of rice by allowing the market to be flooded with rice imports as long as these are slapped with a 35-percent tariff for ASEAN countries and 50 percent for non-ASEAN states.

The measure, signed by President Rodrigo Duterte earlier this year, was sponsored and authored by re-electionist Senator Cynthia Villar who remained at top of the 2019 senatorial race as of Thursday.

The senator has disputed earlier claims that unimpeded importation of rice will hurt the livelihood of local rice, assuring that there are enough safeguards for local farmers in the rice tariffication law.

Sacdalan, in a message to winning candidates, urged lawmakers to take another look at the rice tarrification law.

"Ngayon po, hinihingi ko lamang na baka po puwede naman na ihinto muna ito at busisihin muna yung bawat anggulo dahil tamang may mabibigyang magandang benepisyo dahil sa baba ng presyo ng bigas doon sa ating merkado pero inilulugmok naman natin itong sector ng magsasaka natin. kailangan timabangan muna natin bago-fully i-implement, ayusin muna," she said on the interview.

Sacdalan also asked incoming local officials to turn their attention to the alleged illegal conversion of farmlands.

"Itong mga nasa local government, kung po puwede, i-control naman itong mga illegal conversions na mga nangyayari," she said.

"Kasi maganda yung rice tarrification law kung ating mga official na ito ay hindi pinapahintulutan yang mg nangyayari sa ating bukirin," she added. — MDM, GMA News