(First of two parts)
The rice tariffication law (RTL) was born on Feb. 14, 2019 when President Rodrigo Duterte signed it, promising a host of benefits for consumers and gains for the economy.
Removing quantitative restrictions, or limits in volume, on rice imports had been touted to significantly reduce prices that consumers, particularly the poor, pay for rice.
Farmers would get help reducing production costs and increasing their yields to compete with cheaper imports and still earn money.
The government, particularly the National Food Authority (NFA), would be freed from its costly and graft-prone functions of importing, buying high f…
Keep on reading: Rice tarrification: A litany of broken promises