MANILA — Voting 231-3-1, the House of Representatives approved on Tuesday the third and final reading of House Bill 10381, which seeks to amend the Rice Tariffication Law. 

The measure includes a proposal to restore the National Food Authority’s function of selling more affordable rice to retail outlets during food security emergency situations. 

This targets to stabilize rice prices and address supply issues. Under the proposal, a shortage in rice supply, a sustained increase in the price of rice, or an extraordinary increase in rice prices may be considered a “food security emergency”. 

Should there be no available local stocks, the NFA may resort to importation to perform its functions, according to the measure.

The bill also seeks to extend the period of validity of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund for another six years and increase the annual appropriation for the RCEF to P15 billion from the current P10 billion.

But Gabriela Party List Rep. Arlene Brosas and ACT Teachers Party List Rep. France Castro, who both voted no on the House Bill, said the Rice Tariffication Law only increased rice imports but failed to deliver on its promise to bring down the price of rice in the country.

“Sa loob ng limang taonng pagpapatupad ng Republic Act No. 11203 o Rice Liberalization Law, pagkalugi at paghihirap lamang ang dinanas ng ating mga magsasaka. Malaya nitong pinapasok ang mga imported na bigas sa dahilang kulang ang lokal na produksyon ng bigas sa bansa at para rin bumaba umano ang presyo ng bigas sa pamilihan… Sa kabila ng patuloy na pag-aangkat, walang pagbaba sa presyo ng bigas. Nananatiling mataas ng presyo ng bigas. Sa ngayon, ang prevailing price ay P56 – P60 per kilo,” Brosas said.

“Hindi masosolusyunan ng House Bill No. 10381 o pag-amyenda sa Rice Liberalization Law ang negatibong epekto ng batas. Ang kinakailangan ay ibasura ito at palakasin ang lokal na produksyon ng bigas, palay, at ibang agrikultural na produkto ang kailangan natin upang maabot ang food security at self-sufficiency. Kailangan ding magbigay ng sapat na suporta at subsidyo ang gobyerno sa ating mga magsasaka,” she added.

“Anti-magsasaka at anti-konsyumer pero pro-importer at pro-dayuhan ang Rice Tariffication Law. Naniniwala ang Makabayan na kahit anong amyenda na anti-Pilipinong batas na ito ay hindi malulutas ang mga problema ng bayan,” Castro, for her part said.

But for House leaders, refining the RTL will address its shortcomings and provide farmers with the support they need to thrive in an increasingly competitive market. They see the bill, once enacted, strengthening the rice industry and ensuring broader access to affordable rice.

House Majority Leader Manuel Jose “Mannix” Dalipe expressed optimism that under the new Senate leadership, the proposed amendments to the RTL will move faster in the upper chamber.

“Optimistic kami that with the new Senate leadership under Senate President Escudero, uusad ‘yung priority bills, especially ‘yung sa Rice Tariffication Law,” he said in a press conference Tuesday.

Some senators previously rejected proposals to re-empower the National Food Authority to import and sell rice, even as the Department of Agriculture lobbied lawmakers to add this measure in the proposed changes to the Rice Tariffication Law. Citing the NFA’s track record, senators said this power is better left to either the President or his Cabinet members.