(Eagle News)–Several senators on Thursday, Aug. 9, called on economic managers to study the proposal to lower the tariffs on corn, fish, and meat imports to address inflation carefully before deciding whether to implement this.
“We need to see the parameters, if not the details. It will reduce prices definitely but at what cost to our local producers?” Lacson said.
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon agreed.
” Mag-ingat sila diyan kasi maaapektuhan ‘yung ating mga magsasaka. The income of the farmers will be affected,” he said.
As for Senator Bam Aquino, there was a need to protect Filipinos who are “drowning” in high prices.
He said “rice tariffication will have a detrimental effect to 3.5 million Filipino rice farmers.”
“Bago pa ito ipatupad, dapat nakahanda na ang tulong sa ating magsasaka,” he said.
Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno has said they would make a recommendation to President Rodrigo Duterte after studying the proposal to lower tarrifs on those select products to 5 percent.