Re tariffication impact: Rice traders call for protection

CEBU, Philippines — The government has been urged to revive the country's rice sector following the passage of the rice tariffication law, a measure seen to flood the market with cheaper imported rice.

Cebu Market Vendors Development Cooperative (CEMVEDCO) president Erwin Goc-ong, a rice trader in Cebu, pointed out yesterday the government must put in place counter measures to protect Filipino rice farmers from the impact of cheaper imports.

"The effect on the farmers will be near devastating if tariffication bill is not coupled with counter measures on the effect to farmers and the rice farming in general," the businessman told The FREEMAN in a phone interview Monday.

While the newly passed law will benefit consumers as it sets to bring down rice prices, Goc-ong said local farmers must also be protected.

Local farmers have opposed the measure, worrying that it would flood the market with cheaper rice.

"(The government should) come up with a massive and sustained program to revive and encourage rice farming and the rest of the agricultural sector," said Goc-ong, who leads an association of traders in Carbon Public Market, Cebu's biggest.

Goc-ong cited the need for the government to invest in new irrigation systems nationwide.

"Develop new rice varieties suitable for upland farming. Set a timeline for the Philippines to achieve a rice exporting status," he stressed.

He also urged the government to give post-harvest facilities to farmers and boost its rice procurement program to protect them from big opportunistic rice traders and millers.

"All these are doable including Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program and incentives to the whole rice farming industry," Goc-ong said.

The rice tariffication law will replace the present quotas on rice imports with tax.

The law will also reduce government's role in rice importation and lead to more rice imports by the private sector.

President Duterte had certified the bill as urgent as it is seen to cut rice prices and help fight inflation.

He had said rice tariffication would address the urgent need to improve availability of rice in the country, prevent artificial rice shortages, cut prices, and stop corruption and cartel domination in the rice sector. (FREEMAN)