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Politics

BILL LOWERING RICE PRICES GETS HOUSE OK

In a decisive move to address the urgent need to stem the increase in the prices of basic goods, particularly rice, the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading House Bill 10381, which would strengthen the government’s buffer stocking authority. The bill, which received an overwhelming majority of 231 affirmative votes, three negative votes, […]

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Politics

HOUSE STARTS DEBATE ON RTL AMENDMENTS — ENVERGA

The House of Representatives during plenary proceedings completed the period of sponsorship and debate for House Bill 10381, a Malacañang-certified measure that seeks to amend the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) to lower prices of rice.In his sponsorship speech, House Committee on Agriculture and Food chairperson Representative Wilfrido Mark Enverga of Quezon said Republic Act 11203, […]

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Government

RESTORE NFA’S ROLE AS RICE PRICE STABILIZER — DA

The Department of Agriculture urged Congress to restore the National Food Authority’s function as a rice price stabilizer and increase its fund allocation for programs to enhance rice production and farmers’ incomes as lawmakers’ deliberate on measures seeking to extend the Rice Tariffication Law. In his report to the House of Representatives’ Committee on Agriculture […]

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Politics

RESTORE NFA POWER TO BUY RICE FROM FARMERS – LEE

In the House deliberations on amending Republic Act No. 11023 or the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL), AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee has reiterated his call to restore the National Food Authority’s (NFA) power to buy palay from local farmers which would be sold at a cheaper price in the market for as low as […]

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Government

TIU LAUREL BACKS RICE TARIFFICATION LAW EXTENSION

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, Jr. supports the proposed extension of the Rice Tariffication Law subject to modifications that will ensure optimum impact on modernizing agriculture, enhancing farm productivity and improving rice farmers’ competitiveness and income. “Definitely, I think it should be extended. But there should be adjustments so we can adapt to the times,” Tiu Laurel […]

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Politics

AMEND RICE TARIFFICATION LAW — PANGILINAN

Vice-presidential aspirant Senator Kiko Pangilinan agreed to the call of a local farmers’ group in Baler, Aurora to amend the Rice Tariffication Law for farmers to recover from revenue losses. “Kinakailangang reviewhin itong Rice Tariffication measure at mabigyan ng amendments kasama na doon ang powers of regulatory function of NFA para mabantayan din iyong merkado,” […]

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Government

1M RICE FARMERS GET P15B FARM EQUIPMENT – DAR

Ushering in the third year of implementation of the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL), about one million farmers will receive P15-billion worth of farm machinery and equipment, enabling them to mechanize their operations and reduce the average cost of producing rice. “The continued implementation of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) as provided under RTL is […]

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Government

RICE TARIFFICATION LAW LED TO RECORD-LOW PRICES IN 7 YEARS – LOPEZ

During the press conference updating the public on the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL), Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez lauded the “game-changing” measure for bringing down retail prices of regular milled rice and well-milled rice to a seven-year low since the start of its implementation last March 5, 2019.“From the DTI perspective, we are always after the […]

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Government

GOV’T RAISES P14-B TARIFF IN 1ST YEAR OF RICE TARIFFICATION LAW – DAR

The government was able to raise P14 billion from tariffs on rice imports during the first year of the implementation of the rice tariffication law (RTL). During the RTL’s anniversary celebration in Urdaneta City, Pangasinan, Department of Finance (DOF) Executive Assistant Renzo Enrico Blanco said the government collected P12.31 billion in 2019, and P1.71 billion […]

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Politics

P3-B TRANSFERRED FUND FROM NFA TO HELP RICE FARMERS – VILLAR

Senator Cynthia Villar said the amendment she is proposing in the 2020 budget of the National Food Authority (NFA) will mean a bigger budget for the program providing assistance to small farmers. Villar, chair of the Committee on Agriculture and Food and sponsor of the proposed budget of the Department of Agriculture, said a bigger […]