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| Senator Kiko Pangilinan / photo file by Philstar |
Senator Francis Pangilinan on Thursday expressed
disappointment over Senator Cynthia Villar’s Rice Tariffication Law, which
according to him worsened the situation of our farmers.
The opposition senator said farmers are now earning less
compared their income in 2018.
“Nalulugi ang ating mga magsasaka nang halos P60 bilyon dulot
ng epekto ng Rice Tariffication Law. Tatlong piso kada isang kilo ng palay ang
kanilang nawalang kita kumpara sa 2018,” Pangilinan said.
Pangilinan said some of the farmers even stopped cultivating
their lands for fear of losing money. He also urged the government to help
farmers to access to sell rice in the market.
“Hanapin sa mga suki ang local rice dahil alam natin na
punong-puno ang merkado ng imported rice,” he said
Meanwhile, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered Agriculture
Secretary William Dar on Wednesday to buy all palay harvest this season as
number of farmers complained of low prices for their produce due to the rice
tariffication law.
“The solution should be or will be for the Secretary of
Agriculture to buy all. Magkano ba presyo nila? Bilhin natin. Lugi? Lugi
talaga. Are we wasting money? No. We are not wasting an industry, we are
helping an industry,” Duterte said
“Eh ‘di malugi. ‘Yan man ang… Kaya ako nagkokolekta ng
buwis eh. Kaya ako happy ako pagka nakatsamba ka ng bilyon diyan na tax evader.
But I can satisfy the demands of the people,” he added.
Duterte, however, defended the tariffication law saying it
was meant to pave way to cheaper rice prices.
“It is a mode that is intended to serve the greater
interest the majority of the people. So ang solusyon diyan, bilhin natin. Bakit
tayo nagkokolekta ng taxes? Para malugi. Para makatulong ka sa… Okay?” the
president said
Source: Politiko, The Manila Star
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