Lawmaker seeks P15,000 subsidy for rice farmers

A LEADER of the minority in the House of Representatives has called on the government to provide a P15,000 subsidy for rice farmers amid the agricultural damage wrought by the El Niño weather pattern.

Party-list Rep. Arlene D. Brosas also urged that Republic Act No. 11203, the Rice Tariffication Law, be repealed, citing its inability to bring down rice prices and support local farmers.

“The cost of rice has been going up by more than 10% since September, and it doesn’t look like it’s going to get better soon because prices around the world are still high. This is what happens when the country is import-dependent,” Ms. Brosas, also the House assistant minority leader, said in a statement.

She noted that agricultural damage caused by El Niño has reached around P150 million, with most of the lost crops in the farmlands of the Western Visayas and Zamboanga Peninsula regions.

Bantay Bigas spokesperson Cathy Estavillo said RA 11203 failed to control discrepancies in the rice supply chain.

“The Rice Liberalization Law resulted to the monopoly control of large traders, hoarders, importers, cartels, and smugglers on the supply and distribution of rice, making the most profit at the expense of the poor and marginalized rice producers and consumers,” Ms. Estavillo said in a statement on Wednesday.

A day earlier, Agriculture Undersecretary Roger V. Navarro cited the rising cost of inputs in the global market for the continuing increase in rice prices.

The Philippines’ rice inflation rose to 22.6% last month from 19.6% in December last year. It remained the highest since in March 2009, which had a 22.9% rice inflation.

Ms. Brosas renewed calls to approve House Bill No 405 or the proposed Rice Industry Development Act, which mandates the government to boost the rice industry through public investment, support mechanisms, and infrastructure.

The bill has been pending at the House agriculture and food committee since July 2022. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz