A farmers’ group expressed dismay over the government’s calibrated rice tariff rates, saying the policy brings no meaningful change despite its scheduled implementation next year.
In an interview with Bombo Radyo Cauayan, Federation of Free Farmers Chairman Leonardo Montemayor said farmers’ concerns have been neglected as palay prices continue to drop due to low tariffs.
Farmers are currently facing the problem of rice over-importation, which has caused a sustained decline in palay prices.
As a response, the government extended the rice import ban several times until the end of the year, hoping to provide relief to local farmers.
Starting January 1, calibrated tariff rates will take effect, with adjustments based on global rice market prices.
According to the government, the measure aims to stabilize rice prices by increasing or reducing tariffs depending on international price movements.
Montemayor argued that the policy offers no real change, leaving farmers without relief and consumers without benefits from lower rice prices, resulting in continued losses for farmers.
Based on their data, farmers lose around ₱24,000 per hectare of farmland, amounting to ₱48,000 annually.
With this development, the group is expected to file a petition seeking a temporary restraining order to halt the implementation of the new tariff policy.