Abalos vows 100% support for farmers, renews push for Rice Tariffication Law amendment

Former Interior Secretary and senatorial candidate Benhur Abalos has called for stronger government support for farmers, pushing for the amendment of the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) to bring back the National Food Authority’s (NFA) role in supporting local farmers and ensuring a steady and affordable supply of rice.

“Ang laban ng magsasaka ay laban din ng bawat Pilipino. Kung maayos ang suporta sa mga magsasaka at patas ang presyo ng palay, maayos din ang presyo ng bigas sa ating mga hapag,” he said.

(The farmers’ struggle is also the struggle of every Filipino. If farmers receive proper support and fair prices for their rice, the price of rice on our tables will also be fair.)

Abalos said the weakening of the NFA under the current law has left farmers vulnerable and consumers burdened by high prices and low-quality rice.

He recently visited Lanao del Norte, an agricultural province in Northern Mindanao, where he received the endorsement of Governor Imelda Dimaporo and Representative Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo, along with mayors and leaders of the Association of Barangay Captains in the province.

“Before, the NFA was allowed to directly sell rice to the public to keep supply and prices stable,” Abalos said. “But since the Rice Tariffication Law was passed, the NFA’s role has been reduced to mere buffer stocking for calamities and emergencies. It no longer has the power to intervene in prices or regulate the market like it used to.”

Passed in 2019, the Rice Tariffication Law liberalized rice imports in the Philippines, replacing quantitative restrictions with tariffs. While the measure aimed to lower rice prices, it sharply reduced the NFA’s intervention powers, limiting its role to maintaining a small buffer stock sourced from local farmers.

Critics, including Abalos, argue that the law exposed farmers to volatile market forces without adequate government protection.

“Dati, ang NFA ang nagbabantay para hindi malugi ang magsasaka at hindi rin maperwisyo ang mamamayan. Pero tinanggalan natin sila ng armas. Kailangang ibalik natin sa NFA ang kakayahang mamagitan—bumili ng palay, magbenta ng abot-kayang bigas, at magtulay sa pangangailangan ng bawat Pilipino,” Abalos said.

(Before, the NFA was the one ensuring that farmers wouldn’t incur losses and that the public wouldn’t suffer either. But we took away their power. We need to restore the NFA’s capacity to intervene—buy palay from farmers, sell affordable rice, and bridge the gap between supply and the needs of every Filipino.)

Recent data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that the average farmgate price of palay remained low at ₱17 to ₱18 per kilogram, while the retail price of rice climbed to more than ₱50 per kilogram in many areas, underscoring the growing gap between production costs and consumer affordability.

“Because of restrictions under the Rice Tariffication Law, the NFA could no longer promptly sell its stockpile to manage inventory, especially before harvest season,” Abalos said.

Abalos said the feedback from his meetings with farmers’ groups, NFA leadership, and local officials indicated a common demand for stronger government intervention.

If elected to the Senate, Abalos vowed to prioritize a legislative measure amending the RTL, emphasizing the need to recalibrate rice policies to ensure both farmers and consumers are protected.

In addition to amending the RTL, Abalos is also pushing for broader support programs for farmers. Among his proposals are improving irrigation systems, providing educational assistance for the children of farmers, expanding government subsidies for crop insurance, and granting real property tax discounts for agricultural lands.