sffiffifttart

[$ ., rnunSOnY FEBRUARY ].3,2020

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By Maricel V. Cruz and Willie.Casas ' Tariff Law in the past Congress, said government should take the necessary
the rice rarifl law and the ameliora- steps if it were really siniere in help-
A Republic
PARTY-LfST group on Wednesday called for a review of tion program detailed under the RCEF ing the small rice farmers battered by
Act 11203 or the Rice Tariffication I_aw. to
I A lassess
"both need a hard iethinking and re- tbe rice tariffication law and ensuring
its impact and appealed to the Dutefte administration view" adequate rice production and supply by
"The Duterle adminidtration needs to local farnters," she said.
to enspre'adequate domestic rice production.
suspend the Rice Tarifflaw in the mea:r- These include the drafting of a Rice
time that a review of the horrific impact Industry Roadmap following massive
Former Party-list Rep. Cecil Chavez three million small rice farmers.
of the law on small rice faimen and the consultations with farmers organiza-
made the appeal as she denounced the "The details ofthe amelioration pro- country's food security concerns is being tions, agricultural scientists, agricul-
amelioration program lor small rice gram, that includes- mechanism, seed
undertaken " Chavez said, tural economists and top-notch agrono-
farmers under tbe PlO billion rice com- distribution and questionable credit
lnstead- she laid crafting a compre- mists; legislating a "new rice-centric
pcl.ilive enhancement lund
-which she program are not simply rooted on hensive and science-backed Rice Indus- law" that both helps thb small rice farm-
described as a "band-aid". solution to .sound farmer economic and economy,,'
try Road6ap should be the first order of ers and ensure adequate domestic rice
help improve rice producrion and gen- Chavez said.
business of the Duterte admiDistration. production: and suspension of massive
erate ad€quate income lor the coirntry's Chavez, who voted agaihst the Rice "In the order of priority, the Duterte rice importation.

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