NEDA cites urgency for rice tariff this year

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) has cited urgency in the passage of the Agricultural Tariffication Act to protect local farmers from cheaper imported rice as the measure remains pending nearly a year since the Philippines gave up the import quota protection of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Mercedita Sombilla, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Director of Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Environment Staff, said “the government already knows the urgency for the bill to be passed so it is just right for it to be passed within the year."

However, she said that Senate has yet to schedule another hearing that will discuss the bill's passage.

"Senator Win Gatchalian and Senator Bam Aquino will sponsor the NEDA version of the bill to fast track. They will also [discuss] with Senator Cynthia Villar about this," Sombilla said.

Amending Republic Act (RA) No. 8178, otherwise known as the Agricultural Tariffication Act of 1996, will make up for the lifting of the quantitative restriction (QR) on rice imports through the imposition of 35 percent tariff on rice coming from member-countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) like Thailand and Vietnam.

The amended bill already passed the House of Representatives but has remained hanging in the Senate.

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia said the passage of the amended version of Agricultural Tariffication Act could pave the way for cheaper retail price for rice.

"We continue to pressure [the government] to amend Republic Act 8178 or the Agricultural Tariffication Act. The lifting of Quantitative Restrictions or QRs on rice should be pursued in earnest, as it will reduce the retail price of rice by as much as R4.00 to R7.00 per kilo. This will increase the purchasing power of low-income households, aside from bringing down inflation," Pernia said last week.