MANILA – House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III on Monday called on the government’s economic managers to restore the 35 percent tariff on imported rice to safeguard farmers and strengthen the local rice industry.

During a joint hearing of the House Committee on Agriculture and Food and the Committee on Ways and Means, Dy emphasized that restoring the tariff would help protect farmers from sudden surges in imported rice while maintaining affordability for consumers.

“May I reiterate na kung maaari lang na ibalik natin ang 35 percent na taripa (of possible, restore the 35 percent tariff)? Please,” Dy said. He stressed that this move, combined with other farmer-centered reforms, is crucial to ensure that farmers earn a decent living.

Quezon 1st District Rep. Mark Enverga, chair of the Agriculture Committee, supported Dy’s call, noting that the same recommendation had been made in the 19th Congress. “Output po ng Murang Pagkain [Super] Committee in the previous Congress is ibalik natin to 35 ang ating tariff (The output of the Murang Bigas Super Committee in the previous Congress was to revert to the 35 percent tariff),” he said.

The joint hearing included officials from the Department of Agriculture, Department of Finance, Department of Trade and Industry, and the Philippine Competition Commission, along with representatives from rice millers, traders, importers, and farmers’ groups.

Dy emphasized that restoring the tariff seeks to balance consumer affordability and farmer welfare, preventing price manipulation and reinforcing the country’s food security framework.

(PNA)