Duterte rejects proposal to legalize rice smuggling

President Duterte has rejected a controversial proposal to legalize rice smuggling, saying it would damage local economy and promote disorder in the country.

The President said he prefers the government to "import (rice) and lose” by selling affordable rice to Filipinos rather than allow smuggling operations.

"The smuggling itself? No, of course not. That would be destructive to the economy. You’d put down the market in turmoil. Smuggled rice unrestrained, that would promote disorder in this country," Duterte said during a press conference at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) terminal 2 before leaving for his trip to Israel and Jordan.

"Those smuggled rice have not paid any taxes or tariff or whatever. So they are confiscated at disposal of the government and maybe I shall distribute it for free or go down to the last prices --- prevailing market prices," he added.

The President said the government could instead import rice and sell the commodity "at the price the Filipino can afford."

"Maybe we can import and lose .... We can lose but not allow smuggling in this country. That’s the other way around," he said.

"Mag-import tayo tapos magpalugi na lang. At least meron tayong benchmark kung magkano ang maubos --- ang pera natin [Let’s import then lose. At least we have a benchmark of how much money we spent]," he added.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol earlier proposed the establishment of a rice trading center that would help ensure a steady of supply of rice in Zamboanga and nearby areas. He said this would curb rice smuggling operations in the south.

Piñol made the proposal after rice prices increased in some areas in Mindanao due to limited supply.