MANILA – Agriculture secretary Emmanuel Piñol has given his assurance that NFA rice will still be available in the market even after the Rice Tariffication Law is implemented on March 5.
“Even after the implementation of the liberalization law, there will still be NFA rice in the market to be sold at a lower price. I’m holding on to that,” the agriculture chief said.
The National Food Authority (NFA) earlier said that the state-subsidized rice, which was priced at P27 per kilo, would only be available in markets until August of this year if the law passes.
The law opens a lot of doors for imported rice, but the fate of the affordable, state-subsidized variety remains cloudy.
Moreover, local farmers interviewed in the report feared for their livelihoods as the law is expected to flood the market with imported rice.
Piñol added, “I don’t know if this is the right solution but since the law has been signed and I’m a worker of government, I have to implement it.” (GMA News)
