1. Choose a trending issue in the Philippines and give a summary of the story.

The implementation of the Rice Tariffication Law is an ongoing and long-running

issue that our country is still dealing with up until today. It has been over 2 years since
President Rodrigo Duterte has signed the law, yet it still gives rise to grievances and
resentment for every Filipino farmer, particularly in light of the pandemic in our
country. According to Republic Act 11203, tariffs collected from rice imports should be
put in the ₱10-billion Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund annually. The fund will
be used to implement programs that would enhance the productivity and
competitiveness of Filipino rice farmers through skill training, access to agricultural
supplies and machinery, and loans. However, farmers, farmworkers, and leaders of
farm-worker groups have been demanding better salaries and fair rice prices for almost
two years, but their cries seem to have fallen on deaf ears. That is because, according to
Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), local farmers without adequate product
support seem to be beyond the reach of competing with cheaper imported rice from
countries such as Vietnam or Thailand, where production costs as low as ₱5 to ₱6, while
the government claims that the RTL will help Filipino farmers become more
competitive in the face of liberalization.

2. Give the Pros and Cons of the issue you have chosen.

The advantages of the Rice Tariffication Law ensure a notable level of market
protection since the high tax, 35 percent of the declared value, raises import prices, and the
tariff revenue is allocated to support farmers. It also grants P10 billion in funding for seeds,
mechanization, technical assistance, and loans. Any amount generated by the tariff over
P10 billion can be utilized for cash transfers and other types of financial support to
farmers. Furthermore, by eliminating quantitative restrictions on rice imports and
replacing them with tariffs, it enhances rice farmers' competitiveness and profitability.

On the negative side, RTL caused the projected decline in palay prices, which fell to
less than P13 per kilo for wet palay in late 2019, according to the Philippine Statistics
Authority (PSA). Thus, it also reflects the low income of the farmers. Despite the lean palay
harvest season, rice prices have stayed constant less than a year and a half after RTL's
passage. However, based on the initial survey by the Federation of Free Farmers (FFF),
palay prices in some regions of the country have dropped below the production cost this
year because the monthly average farmgate price of palay varied from P16.40 per kg to
P17.22 per kg from January to June 2021.
 3. What is your opinion regarding the issue? Explain your opinion.

“They claimed that the decline in prices of rice is not bad for the economy, but what
about the farmers? Are they not considered as part of the economy?”

Ever since I was in 10th grade of High School as a student journalist, this has been
always the question that comes to my mind whenever I ponder the issue regarding the
implementation of the Rice Tariffication Law. It is sad to think that the farmers who feed
every Filipino family and serve as the pillar of our economy are still lacking in proper and
adequate basic needs. Despite the government's response to the farmers' pleas and
campaigns to fight for their rights by providing financial and economic support, still, the
distribution of aid came slowly and fell short of the needs of poor families during the
pandemic. It is never a surprise that the hunger incidence in our country hit rock bottom
because the government failed to develop stronger and more effective strategies to
safeguard our country's agricultural sector.

In the face of a worldwide epidemic unlike any other, people who serve as the
country's backbone should feel more secure, rather than starving and being the victims of
the government's persecution and unfair policies. No farmer, who gets up even before the
crack of dawn to work in the fields up until dusk should have to face the dilemma of either
starving or dying from the virus. It may take a long time until the world finally heals and we
can finally experience comfort, but the current situation of every Filipino farmer is proof
that our country is failing to achieve success and that more attention must be paid to issues
that reshape our country's agricultural industry.

PLAGIARISM SCAN REPORT

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