The ill logic of rice liberalization

June 25, 2021

The economic managers have been using runaway inflation to justify liberalizing rice importation. But government’s obsession with imports liberalization has only worsened the jobs crisis, loss of livelihoods, and farmers’ bankruptcy.

IBON Executive Director on the Department of Agriculture’s National Food Security Summit

May 18, 2021

Food import dependency, agricultural trade deficits, hunger and rural poverty have worsened under the Duterte administration.

Its Food Security Summit will be a sham if it doesn’t start by admitting that its neoliberal policies are to blame most of all.

Rice tariffication puts PH food security at risk—IBON

March 2, 2019

IBON Executive Editor Rosario Bella Guzman said that non-quota tariff rice importation undermines the food security principles of supply stability and affordability. She said that in face of world market volatility, a fluctuating peso-dollar exchange rate and impending El Nino, government should seek to stabilize prices and the economy. Government will soon release the implementing […]

Further imperiling Philippine rice

October 29, 2018

The government’s accelerated move to impose rice tariffs and lift quantitative restrictions on rice imports is touted to ease inflation. It comes with a heavy price in the long-term, however, as it puts in peril the livelihood of millions of Filipino rice farmers. Amid runaway inflation triggered by its regressive tax reform program, the Duterte […]

Rewind to the 2008 rice crisis

August 15, 2018

Read more: Rice tariffication to impoverish Filipino farmers more, Congress warned

Projected rice tariffication revenues may not be enough support for farmers

August 10, 2018

Research group IBON doubted that projected revenues from imposing tariffs on unlimited rice imports instead of quantitative restrictions (QRs) on the staple would be enough to support farmers’ production. The group stressed this amid worrisome agriculture decline and increasing food prices, which the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) yesterday used to justify proposals for […]