Reduced most favored nation (MFN) tariff rates on rice, corn and pork has not been beneficial to consumers and even worsened the plight of local producers, according to the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG).
SINAG called on the government to reject proposals to extend further the duty reduction ahead of the hearing of the Tariff Commission on Monday.
“Three years of reduced tariffs on rice, pork and corn have not resulted to any significant decrease in retail prices. (Prices) even went up. Our experience with tariff reduction is crystal clear; it has not benefitted the farmers, it has not favored the consumers and resulted in revenue losses to the government,” SINAG said in a statement yesterday.
“Only a few privileged importers and favored traders are the true beneficiaries of tariff reduction,” the group added.
SINAG also said there is no shortage of the products at the moment.
Executive Order (EO) 10 issued last year extended the lower MFN tariff rates on pork, corn, rice and coal until December 31 this year to stabilize supply and prices.
With EO 10, duty rates on pork for in quota shipments were maintained at 15 percent and 25 percent for out quota shipments until the end of the year.
EO 10 also maintained tariffs of in quota and out quota rice to 35 percent and placed corn tariff to 5 percent for in quota and to 15 percent for out quota until the end of 2023.
The policy also maintained the zero tariff on coal beyond the end of the year but will be subject to a semestral review after the said period.
Monitoring by the DA on public markets in the National Capital Region as of Monday showed the price of local well-milled rice is between P45 and P48 per kg; and regular milled ranged from P41 to P45 per kg.
The price of imported well milled rice is at P45 to P48 per kg and imported regular milled is at P43 per kg.
Imported rice ranged from P53 to P60 for special variety and P52 to P58 for premium.
For local rice, special variety was at P54 to P62 per kg and premium at P47 to P60 per kg.
Pork kasim was also at P260 to P330 per kg while pork liempo was at P290 to P400 per kg.
