MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte ordered to “liberalize” rice importation to make sure there will be an “unimpeded” supply of rice in the market.
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said on Tuesday the President saw this as a means to cushion the impact of inflation, which reached a record-high 6.7 percent in September.
“Importation of rice is the ultimate solution to rein in Philippine inflation,” Roque told a press briefing in Malacañang. “Prices of the basic commodities will go down with the entry of imported rice.”
“Currently, there is an accreditation for importers, but on the order of the President, there will be no more restrictions, which will result in lower rice prices. It’s a free market now for rice,” Roque added.
In light of the order, the National Food Authority will no longer have any say on how much rice the country should import.
But Roque clarified that Duterte will continue to push for the rice tarrification bill.
“It was a very hot issue. It was very animated. And we were one of three who had very strong views about the need of controlling inflation through increasing the supply of the rice in the country,” said the spokesman.
Duterte recently released Administrative Order 13, which aims to remove several administrative barriers in the importation of agricultural products.
The order streamlines the application process for food imports through minimizing processing time, liberalizing issuance of trader permits and accreditation, and reducing importation fees./PN
