The House of Representatives is poised to approve on third and final reading anytime soon a bill that amends Republic Act (RA) 11203, or the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL), in a bid to lower rice prices.
This came after the measure embodied in House Bill (HB) 10381 was approved on second reading—thru a voice vote—during the plenary session on Tuesday, May 14.
Among the proposed amendments to the 2019 law include the restoration of the National Food Authority’s (NFA) old mandate in the country’s rice supply chain.
The bill provides that the NFA will be allowed to buy local milled rice as needed to maintain a rice buffer stock. In emergency cases, it will even be allowed to directly import rice with authorization from the President.
Speaker Martin Romualdez commended the bill’s passage, saying this marks “a significant stride towards strengthening our rice industry and ensuring broader access to affordable, high-quality rice for all.”
“This amendment is crucial in enhancing the competitiveness and resilience of our rice sector, ensuring that it can withstand challenges and continue to thrive,” Romualdez said.
Romualdez stressed the bill wasn’t “just a policy change; it is a powerful pledge to every Filipino.”
“We are committed to ensuring that rice—our staple food—remains affordable and accessible to all. By refining the RTL, we address its shortcomings and provide our farmers with the support they need to thrive in an increasingly competitive market,” he said.
Under the old RTL law, the NFA is banned from buying and selling rice to bring down rice prices due to increased supply. But since the RTL’s enactment, rice prices have continued to increase.
Prior to the bill’s second reading approval, congressmen appealed to the Senate to expedite the passage of the proposed amendments in the upper chamber.
“Because at the end of the day our primary objective is two-fold: one is that we can give the poorest Filipino families access to cheaper rice; and second, we can help our farmers to lower their cost of production,” Nueva Ecija Rep. Mikaela Angela Suansing said in Filipino.
Bataan Rep. Geraldine Roman expressed confidence that Sen. Cynthia Villar will find it “in her heart” the value of the proposed RTL amendments as a “very, very good legacy for our farmers.”
The two legislators stressed senators should follow the House’s intent to put forward the needs of farmers.
It was Villar, chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, who expressed opposition to reinstating the NFA’s authority to import and sell rice, citing concerns about corruption and questioned the agency’s commitment to safeguarding the welfare of rice farmers and consumers.
HB 10381 is expected to be approved on final reading before Congress adjourns sine die on May 29.
