A farmers’ group has called out the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) for belatedly sending an invitation to a public consultation on Executive Order 62 slashing import tariffs on rice.

The Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura or SINAG, which has been vocal in opposing lower tariffs on imported rice supply, said NEDA sent out an invitation to attend a November 27 consultation meeting barely 24 hours before the event.

“A supposed review by NEDA on EO 62 is scheduled today, but the invitation was only sent late afternoon, yesterday. All optics, all rhetorics, all for nothing!,” SINAG executive director Jayson Cainglet said in a statement.

SINAG said the promised reduction of the price of white rice to P42 a kilogram has not happened five months into the policy, with rice still retailing at P55-60 per kilo.

“Rice prices remain high. Hindi nakinabang ang mamimili. Worse, it is triple whammy for our rice farmers today – with low harvest due to the series of typhoons and decreased farmgate price of palay due to the flooding of imported rice,” SINAG said.

“Binaha ang mga palayan habang patuloy ang pagbaha ng imported rice; at nabawasan pa ng P16 billion ang direkta sanang makukuha ng mga rice farmers sa ilalim ng RCEF (Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund),” the group added.

Published Date: November 27, 2024