Rice Tariffication Law not to blame for low palay prices, DA insists

The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Friday continued to defend the Rice Tariffication Law against criticism that it caused the drop in local palay or unhusked rice prices.

Farmers in Central Luzon blamed the wave of liberalized rice imports for the drop in the price of palay, which was recently being sold for as low as P7 to P10 per kilo.

“Hindi po kasalanan ng batas. Matagal na ‘to… even before the RTL was signed,” spokesperson Noel Reyes said in an interview at the DA press office on Friday.

Noel emphasized that there were traders taking advantage of the tariff-based regime and “hoarding” the staple grain.

“Hindi pa nare-reflect ‘yung tamang presyo na pumasok na volume ng imported rice. Sana bitawan na nila ‘yan para bumaba ang presyo ng bigas,” Reyes added.

“(Dapat) ibenta na kaagad. Ibenta na para meron silang pera , 'yung pera in return, pambili ng palay, iikot.”

The DA spokesperson also addressed claims made by farmers and consumers that the rice tariffication law was a “failure.”

“It’s not. Kahit naman wala ‘yung batas eh, hinihintay ng mga traders na bumagsak ang presyo. Paano? Hindi sila mamimili,” Reyes said.

He also pointed out that palay prices were as high as P22 in other areas such as South Cotabato. — DVM, GMA News