House okays Rice Tariffication Law amendments

The House of Representatives on Tuesday approved on third and final reading the bill seeking to amend the Rice Tariffication Law by restoring some of the functions of the National Food Authority. 

A total of 231 lawmakers approved House Bill No. 10381, while three others voted in the negative, and one abstained.

If enacted into law, the proposed measure will restore the price stabilization and supply regulation functions of the NFA. 

“The NFA shall exercise its authority to oversee and ensure compliance with all pertinent standards and regulations, leveraging its established expertise and nationwide network to uphold the national interest, in rice buffer stocking and food security,” the bill read. 

The bill also authorizes the Agriculture Secretary, upon the recommendation of the National Price Coordinating Council or the Local Price Coordinating Council, to declare a food security emergency due to following conditions: 

• Shortage in rice supply
• Sustained increase in the price of rice
• Extraordinary increase in the price of rice 

The proposed measure also empowers the NFA to regulate foreign investment in the rice and corn industry. 

Camarines Sur 3rd district Rep. Gabriel Bordado Jr, who abstained from voting, is worried about restoring NFA’s functions given its “troubled past.” 

“Before the enactment of the Rice Tariffication Law of 2019, the NFA struggled to effectively regulate the rice sector and protect Filipino consumers and farmers. After being stripped of its functions and retaining only its emergency buffer stocking mandate, the agency has continued to face allegations of anomalous dealings,” Bordado said.

Several NFA officials were suspended due to the alleged irregular sale of rice buffer stocks to favored traders. However, the Office of the Ombudsman lifted the suspension of 72 of them. 

Meanwhile, Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro said that the Rice Tariffication Law would only keep the Philippines as a rice importer instead of an exporter. 

“Anti-magsasaka at anti-konsyumer pero pro-importer at pro-dayuhan ang Rice Tariffication Law. Naniniwala ang Makabayan na kahit anong amyenda na anti-Pilipinong batas na ito ay hindi  malulutas ang mga problema ng bayan,” she said in a statement. 

(It’s anti-farmers and anti-consumers but the Rice Tariffication Law is pro-importer and pro-foreigners. The Makabayan bloc believes that no matter what amendments you want in this anti-Filipino law, it will not solve the problem of the country.) 

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier said that he would certify the bill as urgent to bring down rice prices, which currently stands at P50 to P60 per kilo. The Rice Tariffication Law, which was enacted into law by former President Rodrigo Duterte in 2019, allows unlimited entry of imported rice to the country in a bid to lower down prices due to larger supply. 

The present law also bans the NFA from buying and selling rice. 

House Deputy Majority Leader Erwin Tulfo also called on the Senate earlier to adopt the House’s version of the bill. —NB, GMA Integrated News