Robredo-Pangilinan tandem wants ‘exhaustive’ review of rice tariffication law

Presidential aspirant Vice President Leni Robredo speaks before an estimated 50,000 supporters at the the Old Provincial Capitol Oval in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija, during her team’s grand rally on Tuesday, March 22, 2022. In the 2016 vice presidential elections, Robredo lost in Nueva Ecija. This time around, Nueva Ecija promised Robredo: “Babawi kami!” (VP Leni Media Bureau)

MANILA, Philippines — The team of Vice President Leni Robredo and Senator Francis Pangilinan is calling for an “exhaustive” review of the rice tariffication law to identify and amend provisions that are becoming a “burden” to farmers.

“Para po sa atin, ‘yung ideya ng pagbubukas ng market, maayos naman ‘yun, pero kailangan ihanda muna natin ‘yung mga farmers natin para makapag-compete,” Robredo said during a gathering in Nueva Ecija on Tuesday.

(For us, the idea of reopening the market is okay, but we need to prepare the farmers first so they can compete.)

“We have been calling government to review, suspend, tapos i-review, kasi … halos wala nang kinikita  (ang farmers) dahil sa presyo ng mga produkto,” she added.

(We have been calling on the government to review or suspend because farmers almost earn nothing due to the prices of goods.)

Meanwhile, Erin Tañada, campaign manager for the Robredo-Pangilinan tandem’s senatorial ticket, said the government should examine why farmers are suffering due to the rice tariffication law.

“Sabi nila kahit hindi biro dahil maghapong nakayuko, dapat ang pagtatanim ng palay ay masaya… Kaya dapat silipin natin kung bakit nahihirapan ang mga magsasaka dahil sa batas na ito,” he said in a statement on Wednesday.

(They say that even if farming is not a joke, planting palay should be fun… That’s why we should look at why farmers are suffering because of this law.)

“The provision of the law that helps, i-maximize po natin (let us maximize). The provisions that hurt, i-minimize po natin (let us minimize). Pero ang bottom line, palakasin ang sektor ng pagsasaka (But the bottom line is let us strengthen the agriculture sector),” he added.

Former congressman Teddy Baguilat, who is running for senator under the slate of Robredo and Pangilinan, also urged Congress to examine how the law is being implemented.

“Kailangan silipin ‘yung tamang pagbubuwis. Totoo bang nakakatulong ito sa mga magsasaka at sa mga pamilyang Filipino… Baka artificial lang din ang bagsak presyo na kalaunan ay tataas din kapag monopolyado na ang merkado,” he pointed out in the same statement.

(They should look at the proper taxation. Is it true that it is helping farmers and the Filipino people? Maybe the drop in prices is artificial and will later increase when the market has been monopolized.)

“Paano rin ang katas ng rice tariffication? Ito po ba ay naibabalik sa magsasaka ng mahusay? Ang dibidendo bang ipinangako ay ibinigay sa wastong halaga at tamang panahon?” asked Baguilat.

(Where are the benefits of rice tariffication? Is this being returned to farmers? Is the promised dividend provided in the proper amount and right time?)

In 2019, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act No. 11203 or Rice Tariffication Act which removes government limits, called quantitative restrictions, on rice importation.

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