The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has collected P2.04 billion in tariffs from rice imports in January, representing a 58-percent increase over the P1.29 billion collected during the same period last year amid a further improvement in the bureau’s import valuation system.

Guerrero’s report to Secretary Carlos Dominguez 3rd during a recent Department of Finance  (DOF) Executive Committee (Execom) meeting was based on customs data as of Feb. 4, 2021.

Based on the BOC’s electronic-to-mobile (e2M) system, Guerrero said data also show that year-on-year, the average valuation of rice imports improved by 11.5 percent in January 2021.

In January 2020, the average value of rice imports was P18,177 per metric ton (MT), which increased to P20,262 per MT in January this year.

Dominguez earlier directed the BOC to check against private traders for possible undervaluation of their rice imports.

Improvements made by the BOC to help ensure the proper classification, quantity, and weight of rice stocks brought into the country under the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) led to the increase in the average value of imported rice which, in turn, meant higher revenues for the government from the duties collected from these imports.

All import duties collected from rice imports under the RTL go to the annual P10-billion Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF).

The RCEF is used to finance programs to improve the competitiveness of palay (unmilled) growers by providing them access to farm machinery and equipment, high-yield seeds, cheap credit, and skills training programs on farm mechanization and modern farming techniques.

Annual tariff revenues from rice imports in excess of P10 billion shall be earmarked by the Congress —and included in the national budget of the following year— for financial assistance to palay farmers, titling of agricultural lands, an expanded crop insurance program on rice, and crop diversification.