Group wants rice importation eased

The next administration to be led by presumptive president Rodrigo Duterte was called to liberalize rice importation to spare consumers from high rice prices as well as to avoid smuggling that is usually brought about by the price discrepancy between local rice and landed imported rice.

"We urge instead to liberalize rice importation to realize the new administration’s promise of affordable food for the poor." Foundation for Economic Freedom (FEF) said.

According to FEF, subjecting rice imports to quantitative restrictions and giving out import permits to favored importers have resulted in "rampant corruption in the Department of Agriculture, high rice prices for consumers, unabated smuggling due to the price discrepancy between local rice and landed imported rice, and palpable inability of the government to quickly respond to supply and demand factors for rice".

"If change is coming to the past and present policies, the incoming Duterte administration should remove the present NFA [National Food Authority] monopoly on rice importation, liberalize rice importation, and instead impose tariffs on rice imports to generate revenue that can be channeled directly to rice farmers," FEF said.

This was the same stance that was given by former socioeconomic planning secretary Arsenio Balisacan a few months ago.

In his previous interviews, Balisacan, who is now the chair of Philippine Competitive Commission, said it will be too costly for the government to keep high import duties on rice.

"By liberalizing rice trade, the incoming Duterte administration can prevent the huge losses of the NFA and make rice affordable to the masses," FEF further said. (MBM)