By MARIEL CELINE SERQUIÑA, GMA Integrated News

Senatorial candidate and ACT-CIS party-list Representative Erwin Tulfo on Sunday called for the restoration of the National Food Authority’s mandate to purchase palay from local farmers and sell rice at more affordable prices.

“It is high time that Congress revisit and make the necessary amendments to the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL), as this law removed the NFA’s mandate to sell rice at lower prices,” Tulfo said in a statement.

The RTL, enacted in 2019, limited the NFA’s role to managing the country’s buffer stock of rice. It barred the agency from buying, selling, or importing rice—functions previously aimed at stabilizing market prices and supporting farmers.

Tulfo argued that without the NFA’s involvement in rice procurement, traders face no real competition, enabling them to drive down farmgate prices and control market rates.

In a move to ease the burden on consumers, the Department of Agriculture reduced the maximum suggested retail price of imported rice from P49 to P45 per kilo effective March 31.

The government also urged the public to report cases of overpriced rice following the declaration of a national food emergency in February.

Meanwhile, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that the retail price of rice continued to decline in March.

Workplace safety protocols

Meanwhile, the TRABAHO Partylist has raised concerns about worker safety following a series of earthquakes that struck Mindanao on Easter Sunday.

In a statement, TRABAHO emphasized the urgent need for comprehensive workplace safety measures in light of natural disasters.

“TRABAHO Partylist is advocating for a multi-faceted approach to enhance workplace safety, including strict enforcement of building codes, regular safety drills, comprehensive risk assessments, and employee training programs on disaster response strategies and first aid to empower them to act effectively during emergencies,” said spokesperson Mitchell-David Espiritu.
 
The first earthquake, with a magnitude of 5.9, struck at 12:11 a.m. off the coast of Sultan Kudarat.

It was followed by a magnitude 5.1 tremor at 12:50 a.m. in the waters near Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat.

A third quake, measuring 5.4, occurred at 1:37 a.m. in the same area, and a fourth, with a magnitude of 5.2, was recorded at 7:06 a.m. in the waters off Davao Occidental. — DVM, GMA Integrated News

Published Date: April 20, 2025