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The document discusses the impact of the Rice Tariffication Law that was enacted in February 2019 in the Philippines. The law aims to make rice more affordable and accessible by imposing import tariffs on rice from other countries rather than imposing quantitative restrictions. However, this has negatively impacted Filipino rice farmers who struggle to compete with cheaper rice from other countries like Vietnam and Thailand. While farmers sell palay (unmilled rice) for around 17 pesos per kilo, consumers pay twice or three times as much for milled rice in markets. The document argues that markets, not farmers, should lower rice prices so that farmers can earn a decent living for their hard work in feeding the nation. It also encourages supporting local farmers.

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Pocholo Regencia
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4K views2 pages

Reaction Paper 2

The document discusses the impact of the Rice Tariffication Law that was enacted in February 2019 in the Philippines. The law aims to make rice more affordable and accessible by imposing import tariffs on rice from other countries rather than imposing quantitative restrictions. However, this has negatively impacted Filipino rice farmers who struggle to compete with cheaper rice from other countries like Vietnam and Thailand. While farmers sell palay (unmilled rice) for around 17 pesos per kilo, consumers pay twice or three times as much for milled rice in markets. The document argues that markets, not farmers, should lower rice prices so that farmers can earn a decent living for their hard work in feeding the nation. It also encourages supporting local farmers.

Uploaded by

Pocholo Regencia
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Regencia, Irish Mae M.

2016141762

GED105 – A6

I. Reaction Paper 2

Impact of Rice Tariffication Law

Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) started last February 2019. It is “An Act liberalizing the
importation, exportation, and trading of rice, lifting for the purpose the quantitative import restriction
on rice,". It was signed by our President Rodrigo Duterte. This law focuses on having rice importers
pay a tariff. According to Faicol, (2019), Southeast Asian countries will pay a 35% tariff, while non-
ASEAN members pay a 50% tariff or the tariff dictated by the World Trade Organization. These efforts
that focus on rice importation aim to make rice more accessible to Filipinos, as rice from countries like
Vietnam and Thailand are sold at a more affordable price. Because of this, it has become the main
issues concerning the Rice Tariffication Law which is that Filipino rice farmers are having a hard time
competing with countries like Vietnam and Thailand because they come with a cheaper price forcing
other companies to buy rice at these countries. Consumers will be very affected too because the Rice
Tariffication Law also concerns inflation rates. It implies that the rice sold in markets should be
lowered to become more affordable and accessible to all Filipinos.

What I can’t understand is that, according to an interview I just watched, farmers sells palay
for a little over 17 pesos per kilo. How come we buy rice at markets twice or thrice the actual price
farmers sells? How come market prices not reflect these concerns?. I think its unfair, nowadays, all of
us is suffering to all these products continuing their increases of rates. And currently rates per kilo is at
12 to 14 pesos per kilo and they still want the farmers to lower their rates to 7 to 5 pesos? That’s too
much. these farmers do not deserve this kind of pay. All Filipinos eat rice. It is part of our daily meal.
Imagine all these rice we consume 3 times a day was harvested by the farmers. Imagine how many and
how wide the land they are harvesting. And imagine all their hard work and continue working even its
noon and the sun rays produce a very hot climate. Imagine if we have no farmers. Farmers has so much
to do but with so little pay. It’s very ironic that the farmers are the one feeding the nation yet they
cannot feed themselves (Fedelin,2019).
The farmers should not be the one lowering their rates, but the markets should. We should help
the farmers. We can help by buying from our local farmers. Even though the Rice Tariffication Law is
still in its seventh month and may still be experiencing birthing pains, we should remain vigilant with
what is happening to our agriculture landscape. We should help each other by keeping ourselves
informed about our resources and the livelihood of our kababayan. Social media and posting is very
easy nowadays, so let us help our local farmers to get what they truly deserve.

“Our deep respect for the land and its harvest is the legacy of generations of farmers who put food
on our tables, preserved our landscape, and inspired us with a powerful work ethic.” (Douglas, nd)

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