The Integrated Rural Development Foundation (IRDF) has urged lawmakers to repeal the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) and pass a new law that guarantees a P25 per kilo minimum farmgate price for palay, to protect struggling rice farmers.
IRDF Executive Director Arze Glipo warned that farmers are losing up to P8 per kilo due to plummeting prices driven by cheap rice imports, with palay selling as low as P8 in some areas.
The group blamed the RTL for weakening local production and benefiting large traders at the expense of small farmers, noting that the Philippines is now the world’s top rice importer.
While IRDF supports House Bill 1 or the RICE Act, it believes stronger safeguards are needed to ensure farmer income and food security.
They are pushing for the passage of their proposed Rice Industry Sustainable Development Act (Risda), which includes import controls, NFA reforms, and climate-resilient farming support.
Source: PhilNews24 | July 30, 2025
