The law says the DA secretary must make a preliminary determination not later than 30 days from the motu proprio initiation of an investigation. Or, it could be positive in which case the DA secretary transfers the case to the Tariff Commission. “Together with this transfer to the TC, the secretary has the option to impose the provisional safeguard measure if he deems it necessary,” Montemayor said. Since the Rice Tariffication Law took effect, the Philippines has already imported more than two million metric tons of rice, causing palay prices to plummet in most parts of the country. Total rice imports as of September have reached 20 percent of the total rice requirement of the country for 2019, but the Philippines only need 10 percent of imports, at most.

Source: Philippine Star October 09, 2019 16:41 UTC