FILIPINO rice farmers will be equally protected and may even gain competitive advantage if the quantitative restriction (QR) on rice is no longer extended beyond 2017, an official of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) said on Monday.

Contrary to earlier notions that the Philippine rice industry will bear the brunt of global competition without the rice importation cap, a NEDA official said that prices of locally grown rice will actually be lower compared to the landed cost of imported rice if QRs are removed.