PAST INITIATIVES ON THE PROBLEM

Rice Tarrification Law

The Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) or Republic Act No. 11203 aims to lower the price of rice as it removes restrictions on imported rice and replaces this with a tariff system. These rates consist of a 35% tariff for ASEAN imports and a 50% tariff for non-ASEAN imports.

Although this may seem beneficial for the public, local farmers are struggling in competition with Thailand and Vietnam’s low prices. Farmers reveal that before the implementation of RTL, the farmers’ former pay of at least P17 per kilogram, has drastically changed to P7 to P10 per kilogram.

As farmers receive lower sources of income, an increasing number of farmers experience great difficulty in maintaining their own fields–which are typically taken advantage of by capitalists. People of power may decide to put up a retail mall or commercial area from the former farming land, which results to decreasing rice fields as time passes by.

With this major problem at hand, a protest on November 20, 2019, against the Rice Tarrification Law was conducted by various groups of people including farmers, farm workers, members of supporting civil society organizations, and many more. Through this, they demand stronger support for the rice trade by controlling the provision of infrastructure, drying and storage facilities, and promoting the expansion of agricultural cooperatives.