Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. sought the support of the members of House of Representatives’ Committee on Agriculture, chaired by Quezon Rep. Wilfrido Mark Enverga, to support proposed amendments to the Rice Tariffication Law—calling the RTL a well-meaning policy whose certain provisions had failed to protect Filipino rice farmers.

In his presentation to congressmen, Tiu Laurel said the RTL, by fully liberalizing rice imports, had “stripped the National Food Authority (NFA) of the ability to regulate supply, stabilize prices, or intervene in times of crisis,” leaving rice farmers at the mercy of market forces. ### (Photos by Jay Morales, DA-OSEC)