Last-ditch effort vs lower rice tariffs pushed

Industry groups are racing against time to convince President Marcos to reverse his decision to slash rice tariffs to 15 percent, the lowest rate in the country’s history.

-  JASPER ARCALAS

Leonardo Montemayor, a former agriculture secretary, said farmers groups are trying their best to secure a face-to-face audience with Marcos to air their concerns regarding the tariff reduction.

They hope to convince him against lowering the tariffs before he issues an executive order (EO) to implement the country’s new comprehensive tariff program.

Montemayor and other leaders of agricultural groups have been meeting with Cabinet secretaries to discuss the decision of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board, chaired by Marcos, to lower rice tariffs to 15 percent from 35 percent at present.

The latest dialogue that they had was with Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel in a meeting last week.

Sources told The STAR that the stakeholders sought Tiu Laurel’s help in seeking an audience with Marcos.

They also also met with Finance Secretary Ralph Recto to discuss the issue earlier this month.

“We will do our best to appeal to the President [and have a] faceto-face meeting [with him],” Montemayor said.