MALACAÑANG on Thursday eased fears that President Duterte’s executive order lowering rice tariffs for a year will harm local farmers.
In an online press briefing, Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Executive Order 135 aims to offset the expected 10 percent shortfall in the local supply of rice this year.
“This will ensure that the 10 percent we will need despite the bumper harvest this year will be met for a lower price,” Roque said.
“So we ask for the understanding of rice producers. We will not import [rice] during the harvest season so that we will not affect the price in selling [of rice] in the market,” he added.
EO 135 reduced the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) tariff rates for rice, to 35 percent from 40 percent (in-quota) and 50 percent (out-quota) for a period of one year.
Roque said the lower tariff is meant to attract other countries to export rice to the Philippines.
He cited the country’s previous rice importation with Vietnam, which he said almost did not come through after the Vietnamese government implemented a policy to restrict its imports to ensure their own rice supplies.
EO 135 drew criticism from farmers and senators for being unnecessary due to the sufficiency of the local rice production this year.
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