Marcos: We can't avoid rice production competition with other nations

The Philippines could not avoid competition with other nations when it comes to rice production, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said on Friday.

Asked for updates on the Rice Tariffication Law even as farmers still expressed concerns about competing with other countries with Philippine rice production yet to improve, Marcos told reporters, "That’s always been the case... kaya't kailangan natin mag-import ng bigas dahil ang production cost nga natin ay mataas."

"Kaya't ang presyo ng bigas dito sa Pilipinas, ay ginagawa natin pagka nagkukulang, nagiimport tayo. Kaya't we always have to compete. Hindi natin maiiwasan mag compete," he added.

Marcos pointed out that we cannot avoid competition in the global economy.

"Hindi natin maiwasan 'yun, ganyan ang mundo ngayon. We are a global economy, and we have to compete in the global economy. And that is why our agriculture has to be brought to a level where we can say it is world class and can compete with all the agricultural producers around the world, especially in our region," Marcos said.

Marcos also mentioned the export plan that was launched on Thursday, adding that this measure should be used to improve trade.

"That is something that we really have to be able to take advantage of, kasi sinasabi natin may RCEP, sinasabi natin may ASEAN, meron tayong mga free trade agreements, maganda 'yan, nabuksan ang merkado both for our markets, both for our products to markets but also as supply for our importation," he said.

Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno had said that the administration was not prioritizing a review of the Rice Tariffication Law, noting that the law had been effective in easing inflation.

In his first State of the Nation Address, Marcos did not include a review of the measure in his administration's legislative agenda.

Republic Act No. 11203, or the RTL, which took effect on March 5, 2019, replaced the quantitative restrictions on imported rice with tariffs of 35% to 40% and established the Rice Competitive Enhancement Fund (RCEF) financed by the tariff revenues.

Critics of the RTL said the law failed to lower the cost of rice and made life even more difficult for local farmers due to the entry of cheaper imports. — DVM, GMA Integrated News