Discussions are ongoing on the proposed tariff cut on rice imports, according to Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno.
This is despite protests from farmer groups against the measure.
“The Executive Department is currently discussing at the highest level the proposal to reduce import tariffs on rice as part of a comprehensive strategy to reduce prices for consumers and mitigate a potential shortage of the staple due to the impact of the ongoing El Niño phenomenon,” Diokno told reporters in a Viber message yesterday.
“As discussions are underway, the Department of Finance (DOF) maintains its support for an appropriate policy response that promotes the greatest good for the greatest number of Filipinos,” he added.
Diokno assured the DOF, in coordination with other relevant government agencies and stakeholders, will pursue programs and support measures to balance the interests of domestic rice farmers while keeping rice affordable for consumers, especially the poorest households.
The DOF recently pitched several measures to ensure sufficient rice supply at reduced prices, as well as those that will address the negative impact of the implemented rice price ceiling.
Among this is the reduction of the 35 percent rice import tariff rates, for both Asean and most-favored nation rates, temporarily to zero percent or maximum of 10 percent to arrest the surge in rice prices.
Farmer groups trooped to the offices of the Foundation for Economic Freedom (FEF), the Tariff Commission, the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. and DOF to express their outrage against the measure.
“The President has not made any public statement on reducing rice tariff. We are confident that the President will heed the call of the agriculture sector. Importations, more so unlimited rice importation through tariff reduction, are not and will never be the wise choice especially since we have an agriculture sector that is still recovering, with the full support of the President,” the groups said in a statement
“What we need right now is to reassert our capacity to produce for our own agriculture and food needs, and to vigorously push for food self-sufficiency as we can never rely on the “abnormal international market,” as conceded by FEF,” they added.
