Karen De Guzman, ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Agriculture groups said Sunday that they would file a petition for prohibition with a prayer for Temporary Restraining Order before the Supreme Court this week following the issuance of Executive Order No. 62. 

The EO revised the nomenclature and import duty rates for various products, such as rice, for the period 2024-2028. 

According to Virgie Suarez, legal counsel of SINAG, they will raise on the TRO the alleged failure of the commission to adhere to legal processes and the constitutionality of EO 62.

“Walang konsultasyon, walang public hearing, at unjustified ang pagpapababa ng taripa— minamarapat natin na kwestyunin ang constitutionality ng issuance ng EO 62,” Suarez said. 

“Parang minadali at ginawan ng paraan para ma-publish at maging effective agad,” she added. 

The groups emphasized that the tariff cut will negatively impact local producers and will only benefit rice exporters. 

“Around 500,000 farmers ang estimate namin na madi-displace. ‘Yung projection ng USDA, next year additional 1M metric ton ang papasok sa Pinas. So ito ay nakakabahala dahil magsu-surrender ang local farmers natin doon sa pagbaba ng taripa,” SINAG President Rosendo So said.

“Kapag ibinaba mo ‘yung taripa, ini-invite mo ang importation lalo at hindi natutugunan ‘yung problema ng ating magsasaka. Talong talo tayo sa pagpapababa ng taripa dahil wala naman tayong control sa pagtaas ng presyo,” Saurez said. 

They also reiterated that the reduction in tariffs on imported rice will not automatically reduce the rice prices in the market.   

Despite three years of reduced tariffs on rice and pork, retail prices continue to increase. 

“Sa mga produkto na ang naging solusyon ay ang pagpapababa ng taripa at pag-iimport pa ng marami, ay hindi naman bumaba ang presyo ng bilihin,” Suarez said. 

In addition to the petition, the group will also file a lawsuit against NEDA officials and tariff commissioners with the Ombudsman for violating their mandate.

Published Date: June 23, 2024