Senator Kiko Pangilinan has moved closer to amending the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) by leading the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform’s second hearing on the rice tariffication measure that he described as “poison” to the local rice industry.
“Kung patakaran at polisiya ang lupang tatamnan ng sektor ng agrikultura, malinaw na isang naging lason (at) hindi pataba ang naging epekto at resulta ng Rice Tariffication Law,” Pangilinan, who chairs the Committee on Agriculture, said in his opening statement.
During the hearing, the veteran legislator stated that a technical working group will soon convene to create a committee report aimed at amending the law, which has weakened the powers of the National Food Authority (NFA) and facilitated the entry of more imported rice, rather than providing the support needed by local rice farmers.
“Sisiguraduhin natin na ang mga repormang isusulong ay tunay na tutugon sa kakulangan sa polisiya at magpapatatag sa ating mga institusyon.”\
“Sisiguraduhin natin na ang mga repormang isusulong ay tunay na tutugon sa kakulangan sa polisiya at magpapatatag sa ating mga institusyon,” the seasoned lawmaker explained.
According to the data from the Philippine Statistics Authority as of September 2025, the farmgate price of palay is P15.60 per kilo.
Farmers’ organizations, however, have previously raised concerns that actual farmgate prices of palay went down to as low as P8 per kilo, while the domestic market is inundated with imported rice, putting immense pressure on local farmers and threatening the local rice industry.
The senator also mentioned concerns about price manipulation, irregularities in warehouses, and the diminished authority of the NFA to safeguard both farmers and consumers.
He backed the Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.’s call for an “overhaul” of the system to calibrate intervention, strengthen extension services, and modernize the NFA.
Pangilinan also expressed his expectations for two executive orders from Malacañang: one to establish a minimum floor price for both dry and wet palay for direct government purchases, and another to ensure the full implementation of the Sagip Saka Act.
This act enables national and local government units to purchase food directly from farmers and fisherfolk without the need for public bidding.
“’Yung dalawang E.O. na ‘yun hopefully within the month, ay ma-i-issue na.”
“So, yung dalawang E.O. na ‘yun hopefully within the month, ay ma-i-issue na (at) tututukan natin ‘yan. Sa tulong ng mga katuwang sa pamahalaan, pribadong sektor, at mga magsasaka mismo, sama-sama nating itatag ang mga repormang magpapatibay sa kinabukasan ng agrikultura, pagsasaka, at kabuhayan ng bawat Pilipino,” he concluded.
