IMPLEMENTING RICE TARIFFICATION LAW

Rice tariffication is ultimately to the benefit of the whole people, but we must act quickly to
safeguard the welfare of Filipino rice farmers. Rice tariffication law concerns about the main crops
produced by our country which is ‘rice’ wherein it mainly affects Filipino farmers. This law also called
Republic Act 11203, an act liberalizing the importation, exportation and trading of rice, lifting for the
purpose the quantitative import restriction on rice and for other purposes.

If you browse on the internet or on any social networking sites, you can clearly see the decrease
in value of the rice brought from the farmers. From the original price of P17 down to P7, 10 pesos has
been deducted which has a high effect on living of an individual. The said law is in favor of those normal
individuals and vice versa to those farmers in the country.

According to Section 2 Declaration of Policy, it states that it is the policy of the State to ensure
food security and to make the country’s agricultural sector viable, efficient and globally competitive. The
State adopts the use of tariffs in lieu of non – tariff import restrictions to protect local producers of
agricultural products.

The law still maintains a significant degree of trade protection, but it does not impose the supply
bottlenecks and institutional monopolies. Moreover, it has created a significant budget to enhance the
productivity and well – being of rice farmers.

On top of this, the National Food Authority (NFA) should aggressively buy rice from local
producers, especially in the areas with depressed prices. Such buying can influence higher prices towards
alleviating the impact on farmers of low ‘palay’ prices. Local government units and other government
agencies must likewise be involved in buying local rice for their constituents to contribute to the over –
all effort.