Proposed rice tariff law amendments approved at committee level

MANILA, Philippines — Proposed amendments to the Republic Act No. 11203 or the rice tariffication law (RTL) have been approved by the House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture and Food, with five bills being consolidated by the panel.

During the committee’s hearing on Tuesday, House Bills (HB) No. 212, 405, 1562, 9030, and 9547 were consolidated to form the still unnumbered substitute bill.

It was Abono party-list Rep. Robert Raymund Estrella who made the motion to consolidate the bills.

“Mr. Chairman, we thank the committee for the many inputs being discussed, up to the night we are talking about this, but the public cannot wait for a long time before we have affordable commodities, especially with our basic staple like rice,” Estrella said.

READ: PH may need not increase rice imports

“And so, subject to style and amendments, Mr. Chairman, I move to approve a substitute bill of House Bills No. 212, 405, 1562, 9030, 9547 and in consideration of House Resolution No. 1614,” he added.

Committee chair and Quezon 1st District Rep. Wilfrido Mark Enverga approved the motion after it was seconded.

House officials, including Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, have been calling for the amendment of the RTL. They say that if the law is amended, rice prices can go down by P10 to P15 in June.

Romualdez and Deputy Majority Leader Erwin Tulfo explained that the RTL amendment would allow NFA to directly sell rice to consumers — which was barred when the law was enacted.

READ: Romualdez: Rice prices down P15 if rice tariff law amended by June

The committee approval comes a day after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. vowed to certify as urgent bills that seek to amend the law.

“The certification of this bill as urgent by President Marcos is a critical step forward in our concerted efforts to improve the livelihood of our local farmers and ensure food security for all Filipinos,” Romualdez said in a statement on Monday.

“This amendment will allow us to address the challenges and limitations of the current law, ensuring that it serves the best interest of the agricultural sector and the consumers,” he added.