Story by Paige Javier.

MANILA — The House Quinta Committee or ‘Murang Pagkain Super Committee’ revealed its preliminary findings aimed at addressing smuggling and alleged price manipulation of basic goods and essential commodities.

Among the panel’s suggestions were to bring back the tariffs on imported rice to 35 percent from 15 percent at present, and to reinstate the regulatory and trading mandates of the National Food Authority.

“I strongly urge the Secretary of Agriculture to reconsider reverting the tariff rates to the pre-existing rate of 35 percent and to review Executive Order No. 62 which lowered the rate to 15 percent to protect the local farmers from the imported rice coming in,” said House Committee on Social Services Nueva Ecija Rep. Ria Vergara.

Cheaper rice imports have been cited by economists as a major factor in reducing rice prices and slowing down inflation since the second half of last year. Farmers groups however have criticized the measure saying it has led to lower incomes for domestic producers.  

The Quinta Comm also pushed for the reinstatement of the regulatory and trading mandates of the NFA, which were taken away when the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) was enacted in 2019. The RTL reduced the NFA’s mandate to emergency buffer stocking of rice. Lawmakers said letting the NFA trade rice again will help stabilize supply and prices of grains.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. welcomed the recommendations of the Quinta Comm.  

“Yung recommendations nila is very much aligned to sa gusto namin sa DA. Malaking bagay yun at pareho. Synchronized ang pag-iisip ng Congress at DA,” he said in a chance interview.

Tiu-Laurel said theya re looking at a gradual increase of tariffs.

“The last review which was 2 months ago, the position namin ng NEDA was to recommend a gradual increase towards attaining 35 percent. Kung 15 to 35 that may create a shock to the market,” Tiu Laurel said.  

The Agriculture chief also welcomed giving the NFA broader powers to intervene in the rice market.

“With more regulatory powers, distribution and trading powers ng NFA, we should be able to have more control of the situation, the rice prices and pati yung prices ng palay na binibili sa mga farmers. So importante talaga,” Tiu Laurel said.

HALF CUP OF RICE

In a bid to lessen rice wastage, the Quinta Comm recommended the enactment of a law mandating all food establishments to provide half-cup rice servings.  

The joint panel also suggested ‘prompt enforcement’ of the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act or Republic Act No. 12022.

The Quinta Comm also enjoined the DA Bureau of Plant Industry to study the discrepancies between farmgate and retail prices.

“Yes we are doing all 60 commodities ng agriculture. We have almost 20 already then lahat uubusin namin para makita talaga buong value chain. All of the costs, all the levels,” Laurel responded. (12:11 pm)

Other recommendations of the joint panel include:  

1. Streamlining regulatory processes to expedite the evaluation and approval of African Swine Fever vaccines for commercial use
2. Upgrade the Minimum Access Volume (MAV) Management System to reflect the actual market demand and consumption patterns
3. Expedite the construction of the Cold Examination Facility Area (CEFA) to enhance the DA’s capacity for first-border inspection of containerized agricultural goods
4. Cut high productions costs by augmenting the budget of the DA to bolster the competitiveness of rice and high-value crop production
5. Leverage the quick response fund to fast-track the procurement, distribution and administration of ASF vaccine
6. Strengthen the institutional capacity of the Bureau of Animal Industry to fully execute its mandate
7. Recommend to the Department of Finance to exempt farm implements from value-added tax
8. Enjoin the DOF and Bureau of Customs to conduct a feasibility study to assess the implementation of mandatory pre-shipment inspections for agricultural imports, institutionalize pre-shipment protocols

When asked about the budget needed to implement the recommendations, Laurel said they requested for P160 billion for next year.

Published Date: June 17, 2025