Solons seek suggestions from opponents to amend rice tariff law

PBA party-list Rep. Margarita “Migs” Nograles. PHOTO FROM FACEBOOK PAGE

MANILA, Philippines — Lawmakers from the House of Representatives have asked those who oppose the proposed amendments to Republic Act No. 11203, or the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL), what other program can they suggest to bring rice prices down.

PBA party-list Rep. Margarita Nograles at a press briefing on Tuesday said that while they have no problem with people opposing the House’ legislative direction, suggestions must be made so that lawmakers can know what steps to make.

“They can oppose, of course they are entitled to that, but if they would oppose whatsoever I hope they give a reason to it, because many of our fellow Filipinos struggle — so they should come up with a solution,” Nograles told reporters in the Batasang Pambansa complex.

“They cannot just oppose this measure, they should give a solution because at least here in the House, under the leadership of Speaker Martin Romualdez, we are proposing solutions to the immediate problems both short-term and long-term.  So, if you are going to oppose it, I hope the good senators will propose solutions also that’s maybe better than what we are trying to propose here,” she added.

Zambales 1st District Rep. Jefferson Khonghun said that the RTL is being amended because some deficiencies were spotted — adding that there is no perfect law since the people who craft it are also imperfect.

“There is no perfect law and moreso, the people who come up with these laws are not perfect, that’s why we saw some shortcomings of this law, and we need to amend this law to improve the conditions and protect the welfare of our farmers,” Khonghun said.

“Of course we also want our consumers to have the right to the cheaper rice that can be offered by the National Food Authority (NFA).  So, I hope they give a chance to the proposed amendments to the Rice Tariffication Law and I hope they do not close their minds to such proposals,” he added.

None of the lawmakers present specified who was against the amendments to the RTL, but it was Senator Cynthia Villar who warned that allowing NFA to sell cheaper rice directly to the public again might expose the agency to corruption.

Villar was one of the principal authors of the RTL, which was signed into law in 2019 by former president Rodrigo Duterte.

READ: Cynthia Villar says no one wants to discard Rice Tariffication Law 

In response to Villar’s fears, Nueva Ecija 1st District Rep. Mikaela Suansing said last May 2 that amendments to the RTL would include safeguards — adding that there will be ways to task NFA with selling cheaper rice while monitoring its activities.

Meanwhile, Makabayan bloc member and Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas said that they prefer that the entire law be repealed, as it has harmed the livelihood of farmers.

READ: Solon vows anti-corruption measures once NFA allowed to sell rice anew 

Earlier, the House committee on agriculture and food approved a still unnumbered substitute bill, which will be a consolidation of five proposed amendments to the RTL.  According to Quezon 1st District Rep. Wilfrido Mark Enverga, the committee-approved bill will allow NFA to intervene and sell rice at a lower price during emergencies or when costs are high.

Deputy Majority Leader Erwin Tulfo — one of the lawmakers who pushed for the RTL amendments — said that the purpose of the NFA is still to stabilize prices.

“Let me just add to that.  The purpose of the NFA here is to stabilize.  If the prices of retailers are high, the NFA will enter.  So, like right now, there is no emergency, but the way we look at it right now, the committee believes we are in an emergency situation, we’re at P56 (per kilogram) right?  We need to bring it down,” he said.