Manila Bulletin
Solon calls for review of rice tarrification law, says it's causing misery for farmers
Solon calls for review of rice tarrification law, says it's causing misery for farmers
Solon calls for review of rice tarrification law, says it's causing misery for farmers
Published Aug 7, 2019 04:19 pm
By Ben Rosario
The Rice Tarrification Law may have been a factor in controlling inflation rate, but its economic benefits have not trickled down to local rice farmers, a neophyte partylist lawmaker said Wednesday.
(JANSEN ROMERO / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
Magsasaka Partylist Rep. Argel Joseph Cabatbat made this assertion as he dared newly designated Agriculture Secretary William Dar and Congress to review the RTL on its first year of implementation.
Cabatbat claimed that, since it was first implemented, the RTL has caused palay prices to drop “tremendously” from P17 to P12.40 per kilo, registering a high 37 percent drop, not just 17 percent as claimed by other sectors.
Cabatbat said that while he did not espouse a conflict between the interest of farmers and consumers, he noted that the RTL has caused various adverse economic effects.
“Mas mahal na kinakain ng hayop kaysa kinakain ng tao” he maintained.. (What animals are feeding have become more expensive that what humans eat.
He was referring to animal feed that is by-product of palay. Since animal feed is no longer included in the rice exports to Philippines by other countries, piggeries are left with no choice but to purchase local feed that has become expensive due to market factors.
“Ngayon mataas na ang presyo ng karne,” noted Cabatbat.
The neophyte solon said the RTL’s may have cause the inflation rate to drop this month, but the ugly effects are felt by farmers.
“The data only shows that any good effects of the RTL do not trickle down to our local farmers. The traders, imporers, cartles and other agricultural middlemen are the only ones benefitting from the said law,” he claimed.
Cabatbat called on Dar to prioritize the review of the RTL and the immediate audit of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund “to ensure that the allocated funds redound to help improve the competitiveness of our farmers.”
(JANSEN ROMERO / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
Magsasaka Partylist Rep. Argel Joseph Cabatbat made this assertion as he dared newly designated Agriculture Secretary William Dar and Congress to review the RTL on its first year of implementation.
Cabatbat claimed that, since it was first implemented, the RTL has caused palay prices to drop “tremendously” from P17 to P12.40 per kilo, registering a high 37 percent drop, not just 17 percent as claimed by other sectors.
Cabatbat said that while he did not espouse a conflict between the interest of farmers and consumers, he noted that the RTL has caused various adverse economic effects.
“Mas mahal na kinakain ng hayop kaysa kinakain ng tao” he maintained.. (What animals are feeding have become more expensive that what humans eat.
He was referring to animal feed that is by-product of palay. Since animal feed is no longer included in the rice exports to Philippines by other countries, piggeries are left with no choice but to purchase local feed that has become expensive due to market factors.
“Ngayon mataas na ang presyo ng karne,” noted Cabatbat.
The neophyte solon said the RTL’s may have cause the inflation rate to drop this month, but the ugly effects are felt by farmers.
“The data only shows that any good effects of the RTL do not trickle down to our local farmers. The traders, imporers, cartles and other agricultural middlemen are the only ones benefitting from the said law,” he claimed.
Cabatbat called on Dar to prioritize the review of the RTL and the immediate audit of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund “to ensure that the allocated funds redound to help improve the competitiveness of our farmers.”