ON Thursday, the Senate scrutinized once more Executive Order (EO) No. 62, which lowers the tariff on imported rice.
From the previous 35%, it is now only 15% Filipino farmers.
During the hearing of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, led by Senators Cynthia Villar and Imee Marcos as Chair and Vice-Chairperson of the committee respectively, it was revealed that there was no sufficient basis for the creation of this order from the Executive.
According to Commissioner Marissa Paderon of the Tariff Commission, the EO was created after consultations with some farmer groups on March 20, September 15, September 30, and October 23, 2023.
This, however, was questioned by the senators as they could not find any discussion in the transcript of the consultative meetings that suggested lowering the tariff.
In the transcript of the consultative meetings, Marcos also could not find anyone from the stakeholders, whether private companies or farmers, pushing for the lowering of the tariff.
The senator said that this is proof that either there was no consultation or that the stakeholders’ perspectives were not considered at all.
Even Usec. Rosemarie Edillon of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) could not mention who suggested lowering the tariff.
