rice tariffication law

Sen. Bam to gov’t: Be vigilant against rice smuggling

SAN JOSE, Nueva Ecija — Re-electionist Sen. Bam Aquino advised concerned government agencies to be vigilant against smuggling following the enactment of the Rice Tariffication Law.

“Kailangang masiguro na hindi iiral ang smuggling. Mahalaga na hindi mangyari ito, dahil kapag may smuggling, mawawala ang taripa na dapat magpapatas doon sa presyo sa local price,” said Sen. Bam, who recently visited the province known as the “Rice Granary of the Philippines.”

Sen. Bam said the government must ensure that farmers will benefit from the 35-percent tariff imposed on imported rice from Southeast Asian neighbors to help make them more productive and competitive.

“Itong pagpasok ng bigas mula sa iba’t ibang bansa. Kailangang ma-manage nang maayos. Napakasakit naman kung ang kikita sa Pilipinas, magsasakang dayuhan at hindi magsasakang Pilipino,” added Sen. Bam.

As the law presents many concerns and challenges, Sen. Bam said the government must focus on ensuring the livelihood of Filipino farmers and their families amid the entry of imported rice in the market.

“Unang-una, in the short term, iyong nakalaan na P10 bilyong pondo para sa mga lugar na apektado ng rice tariffication, dapat makaabot sa kanila,” said Sen. Bam, referring to the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund.

“Dapat matiyak na walang magutom, mabigyan ng subsidiya, at masigurado ang kapakanan ng kanilang pamilya,” he added.

The fund is earmarked to support mechanization, credit assistance, seed development and for extension services for farmers to help them become more productive and competitive against imported rice.

“In the long term, matulungan natin sila na maging produktibo upang mapantayan nila ang presyo ng papasok na bigas,” stressed Sen. Bam, who is running under the Otso Diretso slate.

Sen. Bam: Ensure fast implementation of subsidy for farmers affected by rice tariffication law

Sen. Bam Aquino urged the government to ensure the immediate implementation of subsidy to rice farmer as he expressed concern about the effects of the rice tariffication law on the livelihood of tillers and their families.

“Mahalaga na ang ating mga magsasaka, mayroong safety net para sa kanila dahil maraming lugar ang mahihirapan sa pagpasok ng imported na bigas,” Sen. Bam said during a meeting with farmers in Urdaneta City, Pangasinan yesterday.

“Ang challenge natin, ngayong na papasok na iyan in the next few months, kailangan ang programa para sa ating rice farmers ay naka-ready na,” the senator added.

The law includes a subsidy for farmers in the form of a Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund to support mechanization, credit assistance, seed development and for extension services for farmers.

Sen. Bam believes the Department of Agriculture (DA) should immediately deliver the subsidy under the law so that the livelihood of rice farmers will not be affected by the expected deluge of imported rice in the market.

“In the short term, baka kailangan talaga ng subsidiya para hindi sila magutom at hindi mawalan ng hanapbuhay,” said Sen. Bam.

In the long term, Sen. Bam said the government should help rice farmers transition to other alternative crops that will help them compete in the market.

While the law paves way for steady supply of affordable rice in the market, Sen. Bam said the government should balance the situation by also ensuring the livelihood of Filipino farmers and strengthening the country’s food security.

“Importante na mababa ang presyo ng bigas sa merkado ngunit mahalaga rin na may sapat na produksiyon ng bigas sa ating bansa upang food secure tayo,” Sen. Bam explained.

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