Modernizing local rice production, not unbridled importation of the staple, will solve the country’s intermittent rice shortage, a peasant leader-turned-lawmaker said on Monday. Anakpawis Rep. Ariel Casilao reiterated that the rice tariffication law would make the Philippines more dependent on imported rice. He said he would file a bill in the House of Representatives that would repeal the rice tariffication law, which administration lawmakers claimed would improve the competitiveness of local rice farmers. As an alternative, the party-list legislator pushed for the passage of House Bill No. 8512, or the proposed Rice Industry Development Act, which would earmark P495 billion to promote the rice industry in three years.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer February 18, 2019 23:15 UTC