(Eagle News) — A rice watchdog opposed the plan of President Rodrigo Duterte to lift restrictions on the rice imports.
Cathy Estavillo, Spokesperson of the Bantay Bigas group, said that President’s plan was only a band-aid solution.
She said government should instead focus on the strengthening of local rice production to avoid rice shortage in the future.
Estavilo said the lifting of restriction on rice imports will be a disadvantage to the farmers, as it would be difficult for them to keep pace, as they wouldn’t be able to compete with “cheaper imported rice.”
“We condemn this move by the President. This would result in the liberalization of the rice industry with only low tariffs to protect the farmers,” Estavillo said.
“It is alarming because the tariff to be imposed on imported rice is very low at 35 percent. Without enough government support, the farmers will not be able to compete with cheaper imported rice,” Estavillo said.
On Sunday, the President said he wanted to scrap rice import quotas as the system was a source of corruption.
“I have done away with the quota-quota. You can import rice, all of you. No more paperwork. And if there is somebody from (National Food Authority), (Bureau of Internal Revenue), Customs who would (be) … asking money from you, slap him. Try to slap him,” he said in a speech before members of the Grand Masonry.
“Yang quota quota, ‘yan ang source ng corruption,” the President added.