Farmers seek TRO vs rice tariff cut

Farmers’ groups yesterday asked the Supreme Court to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) against Executive Order No. 62 allowing a reduced tariff of 15 percent on imported rice, as they asked that the order be declared null and void and unconstitutional.

- BELLA CARIASO

The 26-page petition was filed by the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura, Federation of Free Farmers, United Broiler Raisers Association, Sorosoro Ibaba Development Cooperative and Magsasaka partylist president Argel Joseph Cabatbat.

Named respondents were President Marcos, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, National Economic and Development Authority NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan and Commission Chairperson Marilou Mendoza.

The petitioners noted that farmers were “shocked” Bersamin signed EO 62, also known as “Modifying the Nomenclature and rates of Import Duty on Various Products” on June 20.

The petitioners said that they were never informed nor were they ever called for investigation a out the reduction of rice tari.

According to the petitioners, EO 62 was hastily issued sans the consultation, investigation, hearings and reports, which are required by the Flexible Clause of Customs Modernization and Tari Act or Republic Act 10863 to be complied with before the President can validly make issuance of an executive order involving Tari reduction.

“It is well to emphasize that included in the reduced tari is rice the most staple food of the Filipino people. Also reduced are the tari of corn, pork and chicken meat. Prior to issuance of EO 62, tari s for corn imports was already lowered to ve percent 1 percent tari s for pork and 3 percent tari s for rice imports under EO 10,” the petition added.

They added that lowering taris on products, specifically staple foods like rice and corn, poses significant challenges for local farmers. Lower tari s can lead to an in ux of cheaper imported goods, undermining domestic producers’ and farmers’ sales and products.

In a statement, Balisacan said NEDA respects the legal process and will respond to the petition led by farmers’ groups in due course.