The Rice Tariffication Act (RTA) is a good measure. Besides being a binding international obligation which we voluntarily assumed when we joined the World Trade Organization (WTO), it was intended to serve two national purposes.
The Rice Tariffication Act (RTA) is a good measure. Besides being a binding international obligation which we voluntarily assumed when we joined the World Trade Organization (WTO), it was intended to serve two national purposes.
The first purpose was to bring down the retail price of rice to make the staple more affordable to consumers and thus make poor Filipinos more food secure. This has begun to work and additionally helped bring down inflation which is of broad benefit to all.
The second purpose was to push/force our farmers to become more productive and more competitive in the global market. This requires a re-direction of our efforts and substantial investments in the countryside but will take a while to execute.
See full article at Manila Bulletin
