MANILA – The Department of Agriculture (DA) is expediting nationwide consultations on the comprehensive revision of the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL), expressing confidence that the reforms will help lower rice prices and restore fairness to Filipino farmers.

The series of regional consultative meetings, which will conclude next week, aims to finalize the administration’s proposed amendments before submitting the draft to Congress. The effort follows the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to improve farmers’ livelihoods while ensuring affordable and quality rice for consumers.

Momentum for reform increased following the 2025 Quinta Hearings in the House of Representatives, where lawmakers and stakeholders acknowledged that the 2024 amendments to the RTL—now Republic Act 12078— were insufficient. The revision is among the 44 priority measures endorsed by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) to align key legislation between Congress and the Executive branch.

At the core of the consultations are three pressing issues: declining farm incomes due to cheap imports, retail prices not reflecting lower import costs, and the country’s rising dependence on unstable global grain markets.

“We cannot allow our farmers to be the casualties of market inefficiencies and unchecked speculation,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said. “Our goal is a rice industry that rewards productivity, ensures stability, and protects both producers and consumers.”

The proposed administration bill—expected to guide future measures such as the Rice Industry and Consumer Empowerment (RICE) Act—seeks to restore limited government intervention through the National Food Authority (NFA). The NFA would be granted restricted powers to manage buffer stocks, regulate imports, and stabilize prices without reversing trade liberalization.

A key provision in the DA’s draft is the creation of the Philippine Rice Industry Development Program (PRIDP), which consolidates existing rice funds and mandates an annual allocation of ₱30 billion from tariff revenues to support productivity and resilience programs. The proposal also includes a flexible floor price for palay, an affordability benchmark, and a targeted rice subsidy for low-income consumers.

The final consultation meetings will take place in Cagayan de Oro City on October 27 and Quezon City on October 28, following earlier sessions in Iloilo. The DA intends to submit the refined draft to Congress and the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office before the resumption of sessions on November 10, with lawmakers targeting to pass substitute bills by the end of 2025.

“This is not just about rice prices—it’s about restoring balance and dignity in our nation’s food system,” Tiu Laurel said.