SEN. Francis Pangilinan sought to amend the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL), which he said failed to deliver its promise of reducing the price of the staple food.
The senator made the call on Tuesday amid the continuing surge in rice prices and growing public concern over food security and affordability.
Pangilinan said that RTL or Republic Act 11203 stripped the National Food Authority (NFA) of its regulatory and market intervention powers.
He raised the need for the NFA to be granted regulatory and market intervention capabilities since this could lead to a stable and more affordable rice supply for low-income households.
The NFA, he added, should be able to quickly respond to address shortages, provide incentives for farmers, and end hoarding, profiteering, and monopolistic activities by unscrupulous traders.
On the campaign trail, Pangilinan promised to review and possibly amend the RTL because it disallowed the NFA from releasing its overstock rice, which could bring down the prices of grain in the market.
He also lamented how farmers have nowhere to store their rice harvest because the NFA’s warehouses have been overflowing with stock rice, some of which have been there since 2023.
Pangilinan, who is reportedly eyeing the chairmanship of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, earlier said he was willing to set aside partisan politics to pursue his advocacy against hunger.
“Critics say I will be ‘selling out to the enemy’ should I pursue a certain path. They are free to say what they wish,” Pangilinan said amid reports that he would be joining the Senate majority bloc instead of forming the minority group with Sen. Risa Hontiveros.
The Committee on Agriculture is normally given to the members of the majority bloc.
“I did publicly express a willingness to work with all parties along principled boundaries to bring down high food prices and hunger,” the senator said.
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