FORMER Senator Emmanuel ‘Manny’ Pacquiao has renewed his call for a review and possible repeal of the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL), citing its negative impact on Filipino farmers and inadequate government support.
In a series of public statements dating back to his time in the Senate and throughout his 2022 presidential campaign, Pacquiao criticized the RTL, saying it led to a steep drop in farm-gate prices of palay and failed to deliver promised assistance to farmers.
In October 2020, Pacquiao filed Senate Resolution No. 554, urging an investigation into the RTL’s impact. He cited reports that the price of palay had dropped to as low as P7 per kilo due to an influx of imported rice permitted under the law.
By December 2021, Pacquiao proposed amendments to the RTL to strengthen support for local farmers. He argued that legislative action was needed to address the growing challenges in the agriculture sector.
During his presidential run in March 2022, Pacquiao advocated for direct government procurement of palay from local farmers rather than relying solely on farm input subsidies. He said this would guarantee fair prices and stabilize farmer incomes.
Later that month, he joined fellow presidential candidates in calling for the RTL’s repeal. Pacquiao noted that while he initially supported the law due to the promised P10 billion Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), many farmers failed to receive any aid. He concluded that the law had done “more harm than good.”
Meanwhile, the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) also weighed in, criticizing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s plan to sell rice at P20 per kilo in the Visayas starting May 1.
“It is revolting that the Marcos government is using the hunger and poverty of Filipinos as a gimmick to score votes in the election,” CPP chief information officer Marco Valbuena said.
“Marcos is not fooling anyone. Market vendors, tricycle drivers, farmers, farm workers and minority communities all know this is a desperate image-building ploy,” Valbuena added.
Valbuena said the program would likely last only three weeks and benefit only select areas.
He also criticized Vice President Sara Duterte, saying she had “no right to act superior,” and blamed her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, for the high rice prices.
“It was during Duterte’s term that the Rice Liberalization Law was enacted, destroying local production and handing control of rice supply and prices to greedy cartels and bureaucrat-capitalists,” he said.
Valbuena claimed the policy led to rapid price hikes during Duterte’s administration and that President Marcos Jr. has only made things worse.
“The rotten intestines of the Marcoses and Dutertes are interconnected,” he said.
