Villar, the principal author of the Rice Tariffication Act, issued the clarification following reports that the NFA will no longer be able to sell rice at P27 per kilogram. Villar issued the assurance that even with the passage of the rice tariffication bill, the government will still ensure the availability of government subsidized rice in the market,” Piñol said. NFA is still looking at its future role once the tariffication bill gets enacted. Under the bill, NFA will be left with the mere function of buffer stocking to sustain the disaster relief programs of the government during natural or man-made calamities. “What will happen during the lean months, a period of no harvest, when rice prices traditionally increase?

Source: Philippine Star December 19, 2018 21:00 UTC