MANILA - Lifting the import quotas on rice in favor of tariffs will not bring down prices of the staple, a consumer group and farmers party-list congressman said on Monday.

Economic managers have said that removing quantitative restrictions on rice imports would increase local supply, give the public access to cheaper rice from abroad, and force local producers to lower prices.

Anakpawis Partylist Representative Ariel Casilao however said there is no guarantee that this will happen as rice traders operating as a cartel will still be able to manipulate prices.

"They can easily negotiate and agree upon themselves what price to set in the market," Casilao said in an interview with ABS-CBN News.

Bantay Bigas Spokesperson Cathy Estavillo also said that removing import quotas may worsen the grip of "rice cartels" on the rice market.

"Mas lalala yung cartel, lalala yung hoarders, lalala yung smuggling," Estavillo said.

Congress is holding hearings on House Bill 7735, or the Agricultural Tariffication Act, which President Rodrigo Duterte said was an urgent measure during his third State of the Nation Address.

Farmers groups however fear cheap imported rice will flood the market and put local rice growers at a disadvantage.

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Casilao said the Makabayan Bloc will oppose rice tariffication.

- Report from Warren De Guzman, ABS-CBN News