Benise Balaoing

A worker arranges sacks of rice at a local rice store in Quezon City, October 4, 2023. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has lifted the implementation of mandatory price caps on rice. The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) recommended the lifting of the mandatory rice price cap due to the decreasing rice prices in local markets and an increased supply of local harvest in the last quarter of 2023.Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Rice sacks in Quezon City

Victoria Tulad

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr. is seeking a reviewof  and potential amendments to the Rice Tariffication Law, which he said threatens to kill domestic rice industry.The law removed caps on rice imports but imposed tariffs that proponents said would help local rice farmers compete.During the hearing of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform on Wednesday to look into rising prices of food ad basic agricultural commodities, Tiu Laurel said changes in legislation must be done.“We must revisit, amend and when necessary replace the laws that no longer serve our farmers and consumers. Foremost among these is the Rice Tariffication Law. Though crafted with noble goals, I have to admit, it has faltered by fully liberalizing rice imports,&quot; he said.&quot;It unintentionally undermined the Department of Agriculture and the NFA, stripping us of the ability to intervene and protect this most vital of commodities,” he explained.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/business/2024/5/22/lower-prices-possible-if-rice-tariffication-law-amended-agri-dept-1552">Lower prices possible if Rice Tariffication Law amended: Agri dept </a></div>“As currently written, the RTL does not reform the rice industry, it threatens to kill it,” he added.The RTL was signed in 2019 to remove quantitative restrictions on rice imports.<div> </div><div>&#x27;AGRI SECTOR NEEDS MORE FUNDING&#x27; </div>Tiu Laurel also cited the lack of resources as a challenge. Although they are grateful for the increase in the 2026 budget of DA, he said the scale of what the country needs dwarfs what it currently has.“If we are to leapfrog into a future of self-sufficiency and agri-industrial strength, our investments must match our ambition,” the DA Secretary remarked.According to DA Undersecretary Asis Perez, other key challenges in the agri-fisheries sector include low productivity, delayed infrastructure development and weak forward linkages, and the growing impact of climate-related disasters.Perez admitted the growth of the agri-fisheries sector has been slow and erratic over the past two decades in contrast to other sectors which have developed faster.He said there are currently 11.2 million Filipinos employed in agriculture as of 2023, but the poverty remains highest in the sector.“We calculated the total investment for agriculture to work properly is 3.5 trillion pesos. This is the backlog that we are trying to cover,” Perez said.The DA also touched on some of the gains they have made such as having sufficient rice stocks.“Our NFA warehouses are nearly full with rice stocks sufficient, at one point, for 12 days of national consumption which has not happened for over a decade,” Tiu Laurel said.The DA has also established a virology center for animal disease prevention.Some of the priority programs include expanding KADIWA centers and stores and cold storage projects. The end goal is to achieve food security and make the agriculture and fisheries sector profitable for all stakeholders.“The Philippines will import only what it needs and produce as much of what it can. Nothing more nothing less,” Tiu Laurel said.

Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr. wants to revisit and amend the Rice Tariffication Law.

Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr. wants to revisit and amend the Rice Tariffication Law.

DA chief: Rice Tariffication Law threatens rice industry, needs amendment

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DA chief: Rice Tariffication Law threatens rice industry, needs amendment

Victoria Tulad,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 20, 2025 11:38 AM PHT

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