MARLEN V. RONQUILLO
THE promises of the measure passed on rice tariffication, the congressional measure that ended the quantitative restrictions (QR) on rice imports, are many. But the major argument has been this: That the 35 percent tariff to be imposed on imported rice will be passed on to farmers, fully and without impairment. The so-called “inefficiencies” of the rice market system will disappear once the National Food Authority (NFA) is out of the picture. And without the NFA and the other intermediaries in the importation process, the tariff proceeds would be intact and farmers would fully benefit from these.