MANILA – The Senate adopted Resolution No. 29 led by Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, urging Malacañang to revert the tariff rate on imported rice to 35% from the current 15% in order to reduce revenue losses, support local producers, and lower rice prices in the domestic market.

The measure, co-authored by Pangilinan and Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, was passed without objection during the plenary session. It seeks to “urgently request” the executive branch to reinstate the most favored nation (MFN) tariff rate on imported rice back to 35%.

In his privilege speech, Pangilinan lamented that the 60-day rice importation ban will soon expire, leaving Filipino farmers once again competing with cheaper imported rice.

“Mr. President, ngayon ang 31st day ng timeout. Lahat ay naghihintay. Gutom para sa isang tunay na solusyon,” Pangilinan said.

“Panahon na para itaas ang taripa, ibalik sa 35% dahil ang laki ng kinikita. Mababa ang taripa, mababa ang presyo ng bigas sa world market, ang laki ng kita ng mga importer,” he added, citing data that rice prices in the world market dropped by 40%, from $700 per metric ton last year to $376 this year.

Pangilinan, who chairs the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform, stressed that a higher tariff rate would benefit both rice farmers and consumers.

Under the resolution, Pangilinan and Zubiri said restoring the tariff rate to 35% would strengthen domestic rice production, restore government revenue estimated at P47.65 billion annually, address shrinking agricultural employment, and rebalance tariff policy benefits among consumers, producers, and government.

The tariff rate was reduced to 15% under Executive Order No. 62 last year to lower rice prices for consumers. Pangilinan, however, said the move pulled down the farmgate price of palay to just P7.66 per kilo, far below the production cost of P13.51 per kilo.

“Ang panalo? Mga importer at trader, na ibinulsa ang difference ng seven pesos at less than one peso kada kilo. Ang mga talunan? Mga magpapalay at pati na rin ang ating mga mamimili. Ang talo: gobyerno,” he said.

He added that in the four months since EO 62 took effect, government tariff revenue dropped by P9.24 billion, amounting to P27 billion in annual losses that could have funded the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF).

“Para na rin nating nilubog sa import ang mahigit 2.8 milyong Pilipinong magsasaka kung hindi natin ibabalik sa 35% ang taripa sa imported na bigas,” Pangilinan said.

Aside from the tariff measure, Pangilinan is also urging President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to support other initiatives for the agriculture sector, including the creation of the Congressional Commission on Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food Security (AGRICOM) Act, the full implementation of the Sagip Saka Act, new laws on agricultural cooperatives, extension services, and a land conversion ban, as well as amendments to the Rice Tariffication Law.