By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Maintaining that the recent National Economic and Development (NEDA) Authority Board’s decision to cut tariff rates on imported rice only favors the importers and not the agricultural workers, some farmers’ groups protested the move and said they are mulling to seek a temporary restraining order (TRO) from the court.
On Saturday (8 June 2024), Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) Chairman Leonardo Montemayor said agriculture groups would decide on Sunday (9 June 2024) whether to seek a TRO should President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. issue an Executive Order (EO) implementing the tariff cuts.
“Malaking dagok po sa amin ‘yan. Ang direktang makikinabang dito ay importers… Tariff cuts, do not solve the problem,” Montemayor quipped during an interview on Dobol B sa GTV on Saturday.
Joining the FFF were the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG), and the Agricultural Sector Alliance of the Philippines (ASAP), among other farm sector groups, which said they will announce on Sunday their collective action against the import tariff cuts.
The NEDA Board approved the reduction of rice’s duty rate to 15% for both in-quota and out-quota rates until 2028.
It also approved maintaining until 2028 the reduced tariff rates on corn, pork, and mechanically deboned meat under EO No. 50, series of 2023.
(el Amigo/MNM)