Delina, Denielle Anne P.

BS Architecture 5-C

ECO101 - Basic Eco w/ Taxation & Agrarian Reform (W/S 8:30-10:00AM)

NOT GRADUATING

Impact of Rice Tariffication Law

Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) started last February 2019. It is “An Act
liberalizing the importation, exportation, and trading of rice, lifting for the purpose
the quantitative import restriction on rice". It was signed by our President Rodrigo
Duterte. This law focuses on having rice importers pay a tariff. According to Faicol,
(2019), Southeast Asian countries will pay a 35% tariff, while nonASEAN members
pay a 50% tariff or the tariff dictated by the World Trade Organization. These efforts
that focus on rice importation aim to make rice more accessible to Filipinos, as rice
from countries like Vietnam and Thailand are sold at a more affordable price.
Because of this, it has become the main issues concerning the Rice Tariffication Law
which is that Filipino rice farmers are having a hard time competing with countries
like Vietnam and Thailand because they come with a cheaper price forcing other
companies to buy rice at these countries. Consumers will be very affected too ,
because the Rice Tariffication Law also concerns inflation rates. It implies that the
rice sold in markets should be lowered to become more affordable and accessib le to
all Filipinos.

What I cannot understand is that, according to an interview I just watched,

farmers sells palay for a little over 17 pesos per kilo. How come we buy rice at
markets twice or thrice the actual price farmers sells? How come market prices not
reflect these concerns? I think it is unfair, nowadays, all of us are suffering to all
these products continuing their increases of rates. And currently rates per kilo is at
12 to 14 pesos per kilo yet they still want the farmers to lower their rates to 7 to 5
pesos? That’s too much. These farmers do not deserve this kind of pay. All Filipinos
eat rice. It is part of our daily meal. Imagine all these rice we consume 3 times a day
was harvested by the farmers. Imagine how wide the land they are working with
every single day, their hard work and perseverance by raising the crops for our daily
needs . If there were no farmers or ranchers, there would be no one to cultivate crops
for us. Agriculture would be badly affected and there will be massive price rise of
commodities in the market. It’s very ironic that the farmers are the one feeding the
nation yet they cannot feed themselves.

The farmers should not be the one lowering their rates, but the markets should.
We should help the farmers. We can help by buying from our local farmers. Even
though the Rice Tariffication Law is still in its seventh month and may still be
experiencing birthing pains, we should remain vigilant with what is happening to
our agriculture landscape. We should help each other by keeping ourselves informed
about our resources and the livelihood of our kababayan. Social media and posting
is very easy nowadays, so let us help our local farmers to get what they truly deserve.

“Our deep respect for the land and its harvest is the legacy of generations of
farmers who put food on our tables, preserved our landscape, and inspired us with a
powerful work ethic.” (Douglas, nd)