Gov’t lawyer defends tariff cuts

Agriculture Assistant Secretary and DA spokesperson Arnel de Mesa —Photo: official Facebook page of the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office Calabarzon

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) asked the Supreme Court to dismiss the petition of farmer groups seeking a temporary restraining order (TRO) against Executive Order (EO) 62, arguing that it could cause “significant, if not irreparable, injury” to Filipino consumers.

In a 62-page comment dated July 29, the OSG cited Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa, who previously said that a TRO on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s order reducing tariffs from 35 percent to 15 percent might cause “hesitation and delay” in incoming rice imports, potentially leading to a shortage.

READ: Marcos formalizes rice tariff cut via EO 62

“It behooves this Honorable Court to refrain from issuing a TRO or any other form of injunction, not only because petitioners do not stand to suffer any irreparable injury, but also because the country might suffer that same injury should there be insufficient food supply at this crucial time,” the OSG argued.

On July 4, farmer and agriculture groups including Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura Inc., Federation of Free Farmers Inc., and United Broiler Raisers Association Inc. filed a petition for certiorari and prohibition before the Supreme Court, seeking to stop the government from implementing EO 62.

Named respondents in the case are Marcos, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Secretary Arsenio Balisacan of the National Economic and Development Authority and Tariff Commission Chair Marilou Mendoza.

In their 27-page petition, the groups asked the high tribunal to declare EO 62 as null, void and unconstitutional, saying that it was “hastily issued” and violated the requirement of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act to conduct an investigation and public hearings on the matter.