SINCE there had been no signs that the price of imported rice is going down in the market, House Deputy Majority Leader Rep. Erwin Tulfo said that the Department of Agriculture (DA) should be the only one allowed to import rice from other countries.

“Binabaan na nga ng Pangulo ang taripa ng imported na bigas ng mga negosyante, pero ang presyo sa merkado nasa P50 to P60 pa rin ang kilo,” Cong. Tulfo said.

“Dont tell me walang saysay ang pagbaba ng taripa. So saan napupunta ang savings sa taripa? Dapat sa mga tao di ba?,” the lawmaker added.

He also hinted that it appeared that it is only the importers that are benefiting from this situation, therefore, “kailangan nating kumilos na”.

Cong. Tulfo said that he, along with Cong. Edvic Yap and Jocelyn Tulfo of ACT-CIS, Benguet Rep. Eric Yap, and Quezon City Rep. Ralph Tulfo, intend to file today a bill proposing to give the DA the powers needed to import rice that would be sold in the market.

In the proposed bill, at whatever price the DA purchased the imported rice from other countries, it should also be sold at the same price in the market in the Philippines.

“Dahil bawal magbenta ang DA ng bigas, isasama natin sa panukala na ang mga interesadong rice retailers ay maari ng mag-apply bilang licensed kadiwa outlets sa DA”, Tulfo explained.

“Akala natin bababa na ang presyo ng bigas pagtapyas ng taripa, yung pala walang epekto kasi ang profit o kita sa mga importer lang napupunta,” Tulfo added.

The ACT-CIS Congressman also said, ”Ngayon, pag pumasok na rin ang DA na maaari na itong mag-import regularly, then may kakumpitensya na ang mga negosyante…entonces mapepwersya na silang ibaba ang presyo nila sa merkado”.

It is also stated in the proposed bill that during the harvesting season of rice, the DA should stop issuing import permits for rice in order to protect the local manufactured rice and interest of the local farmers.

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