‘Farmers not to blame for hesitant rice importers’

MANILA, Philippines — Former agriculture secretary Leonardo Montemayor yesterday said that farmers should not be blamed for the decision of importers not to bring in rice while waiting for the implementation of Executive Order 62 on reduced tariff on the outsourced staple, following the warning of Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. that a 60-day temporary restraining order (TRO) against EO 62 could result in a rice shortage.

“Importers’ hesitation or suspension of import decisions was caused by the issuance of EO 62, which was rushed without following due process of law,” Montemayor said.

He was reacting to Tiu Laurel’s warning of rice shortage if the Supreme Court issues a 60-day TRO against EO 62, which reduces the tariff on rice to 15 percent from the current 35 percent. 

“Farmers and farmers’ organizations should not be blamed for – or prevented from – exercising their constitutional and legal rights by going to court,” Montemayor, board manager of the Federation of Free Farmers (FFF), said.

Several farmers’ groups, including FFF, vowed to file a petition before the high tribunal to stop the implementation of EO 62 that allows the 15 percent tariff on imported rice until 2028.

“Prior to EO 62’s issuance, rice imports were arriving in record quantities despite the 35 percent tariff versus 15 percent under the EO,” Montemayor added.

Tiu Laurel said that if a TRO is issued, no importer will import, adding that they will just use their remaining stocks. 

“The buffer stock (of rice) will be sold out by the time the TRO is lifted. We will have a bigger problem,” he said. “Hopefully, no TRO is issued. If not, the buffer stock of the industry will be affected.”

Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura legal counsel Virgie Suarez has maintained that the National Economic and Development Authority and Tariff Commission failed to conduct consultations among the affected farmers’ groups.

This failure, they said, would become the basis for the filing of an injunction.