Gov't mulls seasonal rice tariffs - Balisacan

The government is considering seasonal tariffs on rice to shield local farmers during harvest, Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan said.

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Balisacan also emphasized on Tuesday, Sept. 2, that tariffs are used as a policy tool to address various issues, such as influencing farmgate prices, helping consumers benefit from lower prices, and curbing inflation.

"At the time that we introduced the tariff reduction, food prices globally were still high," Balisacan said. "Then it came down gradually."

Balisacan also stressed that the policy goal is to make farming remunerative and protect farmers from a sharp decrease in farmgate prices.

"We want to make food prices affordable for consumers, especially for the poor," he added.

Balisacan also noted that the goal is to achieve price stability, aiming for both low and stable inflation.