PASAY CITY, Philippines — Senators Risa Hontiveros and Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan have filed a Senate Joint Resolution seeking to terminate the President’s delegated authority to adjust rice tariffs, aiming to restore protections for local rice farmers amid a flood of cheap imports.
The joint resolution, filed on August 4, 2025, calls for the withdrawal of Executive Order No. 62, which was issued by the Executive Department in June 2024.
The EO slashed tariffs on imported rice from 35% to 15%, triggering a surge of foreign rice that significantly undercut domestic producers.
According to the resolution:
The Philippines became the world’s top rice importer in 2024, bringing in 4.8 million metric tons, largely enabled by the reduced tariffs.
This influx has devastated Filipino farmers, driving down farmgate prices to ₱16.90/kg as of June 2025—well below the ₱24.90/kg in 2024 and even the ₱13.38/kg production cost in 2023.
The benchmark price for Thai 5% broken rice plunged by over 33%, from USD 632/MT in June 2024 to USD 419/MT by mid-2025, deepening the crisis.
Farmers are now selling at a loss, unable to recover even basic production costs.
The resolution emphasizes that under Section 28(2) of Article VI of the Philippine Constitution, the power to impose tariffs lies with Congress.
While Republic Act No. 10863 (CMTA) allows for delegated authority to the President, it also clearly provides that Congress may revoke it via joint resolution.
Key provisions of the resolution include:
Terminating the President’s delegated authority to adjust rice tariffs.
Restoring tariffs to their original 35% rate for all rice importations.
Mandating congressional hearings to evaluate the rice industry and recommend long-term protections for farmers.
“This is not just about economics; it’s about justice for our farmers and food security for the nation,” said Senator Hontiveros.
Senator Pangilinan added that Filipino farmers are “being forced to sell at a loss while foreign imports flood our markets unchecked.”
The resolution also directs Senate and House Committees to hold urgent reviews of rice pricing, production costs, and import volumes and to propose responsive legislation.
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