BACOLOD City – The Negros Occidental Farmer Rice Millers Multipurpose Cooperative (Nofarimco) vowed to monitor the implementation of the Rice Tariffication Act to ensure proper utilization of the P10-billion Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF).
“We really have to monitor the actual implementation of the program, or those stated in the law, to make sure the enhancement fund will really benefit us farmers,” said Nofarimco chairman Jesus Jimenez on Thursday.
He noted that although some of the provisions are perceived to be good for the farmers, they fear possible “corruption” and the tariffication scheme might benefit only a few.
Jimenez said the law will result in provision of funds for mechanization, trainings and other incentives to the farmers if implemented properly.
“But it could also be a threat if corruption prevails,” he stressed.
Nofarimco is comprised of 37 regular small farmer-millers who do not have their own milling facilities.
On April 1, the National Economic and Development Authority and the Department of Budget and Management signed the implementing rules and regulations for the rice tariffication law.
President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act 11203, or the Rice Tariffication Act last Feb. 15.
Rice tariffication will result in a switch from the previous quota system in importing rice to a tariff system, where rice can be imported more freely.
The law allows unlimited rice importation, but investors must first secure a phytosanitary permit from the Bureau of Plant Industry and pay the 35-percent tariff for shipments from Southeast Asia. (With a report from PNA/PN)
