Senator Imee R. Marcos Statement Re: Low rice tariffs
Senator Imee R. Marcos Statement Re: Low rice tariffs When the tariffs on meat, rice and corn were first lowered in 2021, the promise was lower prices of these commodities. While runaway inflation has been arrested, prices have not fallen below the promised pre-2021 levels. Today, as we anticipate the additional worldwide threat of El Niño, can we persist with that failed scheme of cheap importation to lower food prices? Firstly, relying on imports and modifying the rates are not sustainable policies because other countries are limiting their exportation of food to serve their domestic needs first. Further, how can much-reduced government collection of import duties on rice, corn, meat products subsidize the agricultural inputs so direly needed by our local farmers? There is no shortcut to agri sufficiency: the government should fast-track the completion of irrigation facilities so long promised, build warehouses, food storage and an expanded cold chain. The private sector must i...