Farmers in n the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) protest against the Rice Tariffication Bill last Thursday. National Food Authority (NFA) workers also enjoined the rally.

The staged rally was led by Grain Retailers Confederation of the Philippines (GRECON) national president Nelson Sañada and NFA-ARMM Regional Director Kitem Kadatuan. Further, they urged President Duterte to veto the proposed tariff law combining Senate Bill 1998 and House Bill 7735.

Clamor for Rice Tariffication Bill

According to the report cited in the Manila Bulletin, the farmers clamor that the rice tariff scheme is ‘disadvantageous’ to Filipino farmers, rice traders and NFA workers. Accordingly, the amendment of the Agricultural Tariff Act of 1996 would limit the regulating power of NFA. Thus, rapid conversion of agricultural lands to non-agricultural  use may probably happened. Moreover, passing the bill might favor big time traders that would worsen the problem of the industry.

The protest happened  in front of the NFA regional office in ARMM.  Correspondingly, help from Melvin Aradanas-Avanceña, a cousin of Presidential common-law-wife Honeylet Avanceña, was sought by the protesters.

What is Rice Tariffication Bill

Lawmakers seek to replace import quotas on rice with tariffs. This was pushed when inflation spiked on the latter part of 2018.  (See report here Rice tariffication: What it is and how it can ease inflation).

Sources:

Farmers, NFA workers protest rice tariff bill

Rice tariffication: What it is and how it can ease inflation