ILOILO CITY — The Department of Agriculture (DA) has apologized here Wednesday (27 November 2019) for the “birth pains” the Rice Tariffication Law may have caused to farmers.

DA Assistant Secretary Dr. Andrew Villacorta said Republic Act No. 11203 or the Rice Tarrification Law has a twin objective of providing cheaper rice to consumers while increasing the income of local farmers.

And first and foremost, the law intends to provide food security in the Philippines.

Despite this, Villacorta admitted that the goals were not immediately met because of the adverse outcome.

It has been found that farm gate prices are around P11 to P14 and in comparison, rice prices were higher in 2018. (Marian Sinamban/IAMIGO/CNS)