THE House of Representatives (HRep) exercised its oversight function on Monday, with the Committee on Agriculture and Food conducting a review of the implementation of Republic Act (RA) 11203, or the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL).
The review was undertaken following the observation by Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez of the growing disparity between the farmgate and retail prices of rice, as well as calls from the government and the public for the law to be amended.
Several lawmakers including ABONO Party-list Rep. Robert Raymund Estrella and Oriental Mindoro Rep. Arnan Panaligan, said the RTL only addresses seed distribution, credit, extension and mechanization.
They emphasized the urgent need for agriculture agencies to tackle the critical issue of irrigation, which is also vital for rice production sustainability in the country.
ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo prodded the Department of Agriculture (DA) to further study and review the law, particularly its prohibition for the National Food Authority (NFA) to sell rice directly to the public.
“By taking away the authority or the power of NFA to sell rice sa public at a lower cost, e inalisan niyo rin ho ng kapangyarihan ang taong-bayan na mahihirap na bumili ng murang bigas,” he said.
DA Undersecretary Christopher Morales replied that the DA is indeed proposing certain amendments, such as the modification of import regulations under RA 8800, or the “Safeguard Measures Act;” the imposition of restrictions on sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances; and the strengthening of the Bureau of Plant Industry’s regulatory functions through mandatory green warehouses and inspections for compliance.
He also raised the possibility of granting agriculture and trade secretaries the authority to import rice under certain conditions, as well as allow the NFA to secure buffer stocks through different channels.
Deliberations on potential revisions to RA 11203 will resume Tuesday.
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