MANILA – Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. renewed his call to restore the powers of the National Food Authority (NFA), including the ability to import rice, that were taken away with the signing of the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL). 

Tiu-Laurel faced lawmakers at the third House Quinta Committee hearing on Wednesday and said this was needed to help lower rice prices.

"Kung maibabalik sana ang kapangyarihan ng NFA with the authority of the DA secretary, mas magiging epektibo ang DA sa pagsupil sa pang-aabuso ng mga rice traders at mas maiimpluwensiyahan natin ang presyo ng bigas," Laurel said.

The RTL, enacted in 2019 under the Duterte administration, reduced the mandate of the NFA to emergency buffer stocking of rice, sourced solely from local farmers.

Last May, Tiu-Laurel proposed major amendments to the RTL including restoring its ability to import through the Agriculture Secretary's approval and its power to regulate rice prices and market supply.

"Nawala sa amin ang misyon ng pag-stabilize ng presyo ng bigas at mais. Sa halip na makatulong ang NFA sa timely intervention para mapababa ang presyo ng bigas ay nagiba ang building at foundation ang NFA," Tiu-Laurel said.

He added that locally produced rice should be sold at a maximum of P48.57 per kilo, based on the average price of palay at P27.45 for 2024. Imported rice should be sold at P42 per kilo.

He said the government is doing what it can to make rice more affordable, including opening Kadiwa stores that sell rice at lower prices in limited supply. The DA currently has 47 stores and they aim to have 170 by year-end, 300 by mid-January. The DA also has the "Rice for All" program where well-milled rice is sold at P40/kilo.

The DA chief meanwhile clarified he is not against the lower rice tariff rate, since rice prices could be higher if they were not cut. He said the tariff cuts would be reviewed in February.

The DA earlier said they would recommend raising the tariff for rice imports if retail rice prices go down.

Meantime, Tiu-Laurel said farmers will feel the impact of the extension of funding for rice industry modernization by 2026.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday signed a new law to extend the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) to 2031.

The amendment boosted the allocation of the Rice Fund to P30 billion from P10 billion.