THERE’S reportedly a plan by the incoming Duterte administration to bring down the price of rice to P15 a kilo. Millions of consumers, weighed down by the high price of rice, will definitely welcome this if implemented. However, it will deal a devastating blow to rice farmers.

President-elect Rodrigo Duterte, according to reports, believes that a lower price of rice would make rice smuggling unprofitable. Indeed, rice smuggling has increased and remained unchecked under the unlamented administration of BS Aquino The Last and Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala. Unfortunately, lower rice price will also make rice farming equally unprofitable. To paraphrase a Filipino proverb, “Sa smuggler and hataw, sa magsasaka ang latay.”

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