By Leilanie Adriano/Philippine News Agency
LAOAG CITY — President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday has assured rice farmers in Ilocos region to protect their best interest with the implementation of the Rice Tariffication Law (RTW).
“We are not against the government on trade liberalization. But small farmers like us must be well-informed and ensure that government programs have measures to increase our competitiveness,” said Crisner Lagazo, president of a young farmers organization in Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte.
While in Candon, Ilocos Sur for the inauguration of a more than seven-kilometer bypass road, Duterte has allayed worries of farmers saying he wants local rice produced to be prioritized over importation.
“You can be sure that during your harvest, no importation will be allowed. Ayaw ko ( I don’t want). That’s what I said. Ubusin mo muna bilhin, kung mahal magpalugi na lang tayo kaysa magbili tayo (Let us first patronize (local rice), if it is expensive, then let us lose money, instead of buying (imported rice),” Duterte told Ilocos farmers, noting no one should be left behind amid the implementation of the RTL.
Last February, the President signed into law the Rice Tariffication Act, replacing limiting rice imports with levying tariffs based on Philippine commitments to the Asean Trade in Goods Agreement (Atiga) and the World Trade Organization (WTO).
The law aims to provide an affordable and sufficient food supply and a sustainable, productive, and competitive rice industry.
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