Rice tariffication under review

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is reassessing the role of the National Food Authority (NFA) in ensuring food security, particularly in importing rice amid the liberalization of rice trading.

In an interview over ANC program Headstart, Agriculture Undersecretary-designate for consumer and political affairs Kristine Evangelista said the department was studying the proposal of the NFA to import rice under the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL).

Prior to the enactment of Republic Act No. 11203, only the NFA was allowed to import rice to the country. Only few private traders were authorized to bring in imported rice, subject to import quota set by the government.

When the RTL took effect in 2019, the quantitative restriction slapped on rice was removed and a 35-percent import tariff was imposed.

The NFA’s role was scaled down to maintaining an emergency stockpile and was limited to purchasing unmilled rice from local farmers.

Evangelista said the DA is reviewing the positive and negative impacts of the RTL as well as the NFA’s involvement in achieving the goal of food security.

“That part is something being studied and is for further discussion and recommendation,” said Evangelista, referring to calls to repeal the RTL.