Allow NFA to buy, sell rice, Abalos says after dialogue with farmers, Cabatbat

Senatorial candidate and former Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos called for the restoration of the regulatory powers of the National Food Administration (NFA) to help stabilize rice prices.

“Noong may kapangyarihan ang NFA na bumili at magbenta ng bigas, hindi ganyan ka-lugmok ang mga magsasaka,” Abalos said in a statement on Tuesday.

“Napakasimple ng solusyon—ibalik ang kapangyarihan ng NFA. Bumili sa tamang presyo, ibenta agad. Hindi na kailangang ipa-imbak pa. Umiikot ang pera, buhay ang magsasaka,” he added.

(When the National Food Authority (NFA) had the power to buy and sell rice, farmers could earn. The solution is simple — Restore NFA’s power, buy at the right price, and sell immediately. No need to store them anymore. The money should circulate so the farmer lives.)

Abalos made the statement following a dialogue with farmers, NFA Administrator Larry Lacson, Agriculture Undersecretary Asis Perez, former Agriculture Secretary Leo Montemayor, and former Magsasaka representative Argel Joseph Cabatbat.

Cabatbat earlier invited Abalos to have a dialogue with farmers.

“Ang mga magsasaka, hindi naghahanap ng kaaway. Naghahanap kami ng kakampi,” Cabatbat said during the dialogue. “At inimbitahan natin si Sec. Benhur Abalos dahil siya ang unang nagsabi—dapat nang baguhin ang Rice Tariffication Law.”

“Kung walang maglalakas-loob na ipaglaban ang magsasaka, ako ang mauna. Hindi ako hihinto hanggang maibalik ang dignidad ng pagsasaka sa Pilipinas,” he added.

He further said the dialogue was a direct result of the perseverance of the farmers—and it was clear they were no longer alone in their fight.

“Tuloy ang laban. Hindi para sa akin, kundi para sa bawat magsasakang Pilipino,” Cabatbat closed. “At ngayon, hindi na tayo nag-iisa,” he said.

Ka Joe Pangilinan, national president of SWISSA, said the farmers do not want dole outs but are seeking a fair chance for their livelihood.

“Kaming mga magsasaka ay tinaguriang pinagpalang tagalikha ng pagkain. Dugo at pawis ang aming puhunan. Subalit kami ay nalugmok sa kahirapan, krisis, gutom, at pagkakabaon sa utang. Ang RA 11203 ang isa sa pinakamalalaking dagok sa aming kabuhayan—dahil tinanggal ang tanging proteksyon namin. Binuksan ang pinto para sa murang imported rice habang kami’y binarena ng bagsak-presyong palay,” he said.

“Ang mga magsasaka ay hindi humihingi ng limos. Humihingi kami ng patas na laban. Ngayon ang panahon para baguhin ang RTL—hindi bukas, hindi sa susunod na taon, kundi ngayon,” he added.

The enactment of the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) in 2019 removed the regulatory powers of NFA and limited its mandate to managing buffer rice stocks.  The law prohibited the NFA from buying selling and importing rice.

Instead, the RTL allowed private entities to import rice without limit, envisioned to bring down the prices of rice due to the larger supply.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier approved the reduction in rice tariffs to 15% from 35% starting July 2024. The DA said this has brought prices down to the lowest levels in over two years, with some rice varieties below $400 per metric ton. —Mariel Celine Serquiña/LDF, GMA Integrated News

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