MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang on Monday said it would welcome any move by farmers to question the legality of the recently-signed Rice Tariffication Law. “It’s their (farmers’) right,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said when asked of Malacañang’s response should farmer groups seek a temporary restraining order (TRO) on rice tariffication. ADVERTISEMENTHe said it would be democracy at work if farmers questioned its legality in court. President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law rice tariffication which does away with quantitative restrictions in favor of imposing tariffs on rice imports. The KMP said the law would be a “death sentence” to the local rice industry and to rice farmers as it would open the country to “unbridled rice importation and increasing rice prices.” /cbbREAD: Rice Tariffication Law: farmers worry; lawmakers waryADVERTISEMENTRead NextLATEST STORIESMOST READ

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer February 18, 2019 05:37 UTC