RICE TARIFFICATION LAW

The implementation of the Rice Tariffication Law has been a very controversial and intriguing
topic here in the Philippines. The said regulation created disturbance among the Filipino citizens most
especially to the local rice farmers and industries. These people sought to be enlightened as to why there
is a great need for the country to import for the Filipino’s main staple. The Philippines continue to fail in
producing enough rice to meet the demand of the growing population due to a lot of internal and external
factors. The country is not rice self-sufficient that is why the government enforced the Rice Tariffication
Law in order to open the Philippine rice market to more supply of rice that will certainly suffice the needs
of the Filipinos for this prime commodity. The Rice Tariffication Law will make the main staple more
affordable for the Filipinos. This law will definitely benefit the consumers but the disadvantage of this is
that it will greatly affect the farmers. The local farmers and industries will not win with the prices of
imported rice. They will go bankrupt if they compete with the products of other countries, specifically
Thailand and Vietnam. This demonstrates that the Rice Tariffication Law has both pros and cons.

The agricultural sector of the Philippines faces a major problem resulting from the shortage of
rice. To be able to address this, the government implemented the Rice Tariffication Law which aims to
increase and strengthen the productivity and competitiveness of the country. The Rice Tariffication Law
has both positive and negative implications. The first particular reason for this circumstance is that this
law is only beneficial to the importers, government, and consumers and not to the local farmers and
industries. Importers appear to make a big gross profit out of it. The government gains much from the
tariffs. The consumers also acquire more access to more affordable rice. On the other hand, the local
farmers and industries lose a lot. The law forced them to struggle against the rice imports, making them
more penniless. For the second particular reason, the Rice Tariffication will tame the price of rice here in
our country. If there is plenty of rice in the market, prices will stabilize. This threatens the local farmers
and industries. The rice coming from the importers is cheaper compared to the rice they have produced.
Consumers will most likely be practical and prefer the cheaper ones to save money. The local farmers and
industries feared to lose their livelihood because consumers will probably patronize the imported rice
which ensures quality yet is very affordable more than their products. And for the last particular reason as
to why the Rice Tariffication has both pros and cons is that this law will certainly help in facilitating the
growth of the Philippine economy. The Rice Tariffication Law has been continuously helping in pulling
the inflation down. This is the result of the more improved rice stock in the country. Given these benefits,
there are still countless worries from the local farmers and industries. The Rice Tariffication Law does not
guarantee the safety and protection of these people. The collection of tariffs might not serve its purpose.
The local farmers and industries feared that the enactment of this law might only result in the government
being more corrupt just like what happened to the coconut levy fund. The coconut farmers did not receive
anything that is why the rice farmers are doubtful about the system.

To sum up everything, the Rice Tariffication Law has both positive and negative impacts.
This law indicates an advantage on the part of the consumers and a disadvantage on the part of the local
farmers and industries. In order to address the needs of these people, the government must assure them
with honest assistance. The law might be uncertain for them now but if only the government were clear
enough with their measures, there would surely be a sound agreement. Removing the barriers is not the
only key for the country to achieve prosperity because for it to attain it, its citizens must be unified first.