DA: Farmers’ loss from rice tariff law only P3.3B

URDANETA CITY—Agriculture Secretary William Dar on Thursday said the revenue loss among rice farmers because of the rice tariffication law was pegged at only P3.3 billion, contrary to the P68 billion claim by the Federation of Free Farmers.

Dar said the government collected P12.3 billion worth of tariffs last year, a portion of which would be used to finance Department of Agriculture programs for rice farmers, such as the rice competitiveness enhancement fund.—Yolanda Sotelo