Quezon Rep. David Suarez (Photo courtesy of Cong. Suarez' Facebook page)
MANILA – The House of Representatives is scheduled to start plenary debates on the proposed amendments to the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) on Monday.
During the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon Program aired over state-run PTV-4 on Thursday, House Deputy Speaker David Suarez said the plenary deliberations will commence next week after the House Committees on Agriculture and Food and Ways and Means endorsed the approval of the measure, which President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said he would certify as urgent.
The leadership of the House of Representatives has committed to pass the proposal to amend RTL on the third and final reading before the sine die congressional break on May 25.
"This was certified urgent by the President and the reason why the President certified it urgent is so that Congress can work fast,” Suarez said.
“Malapit na po kasi kaming mag-sine die break at nakikita po ng ating Pangulo na isa sa mga pangunahing hamon na hinaharap ng ating mga kababayan ay ang patuloy na pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin; at bilang Pangulo, ayaw niya naman pong nahihirapan ang mga Pilipino sa pang-araw-araw nilang buhay (We will go on sine die break soon, and the President sees that the rise in rice prices and basic commodities is a major struggle faced by our citizens. And as President, he does not want Filipinos to suffer in their daily lives)," he added.
Suarez said the proposed change, allowing the National Food Authority (NFA) to sell cheaper rice in public markets, will bring down the price of rice by up to PHP15 per kilo.
As of this week, the prevailing market price of local regular-milled rice ranges from PHP46/kg. to PHP53/kg. and well-milled at PHP48/kg. to PHP55/kg.; while imported regular-milled rice is pegged at PHP48 to PHP51/kg. and well-milled at PHP51/kg to PHP53/kg.
Suarez said the proposed amendments would also improve rice supply, trading, productivity of rice farmers, as well as the overall state of the rice sector in the country.
Meanwhile, Suarez urged the Senate to start working on its version of the proposed RTL amendments.
"I do hope na our counterpart (that our counterparts) in the Senate will understand the urgency of the law and will be quick when it comes to drafting the necessary legislation para magawa po iyong (so that they can work on the) counterpart measure ng (of the) RTL amendments," he said.
In certifying the proposed legislation as urgent, Marcos said amending the charter of the NFA and the RTL would give the government the needed leeway to act when retail prices of rice go up. (PNA)
