THE HOUSE of Representatives on Tuesday approved on third and final reading a bill that seeks to reinstate the ability of the National Food Authority (NFA) to sell rice at subsidized prices during emergencies.
The bill will amend the Rice Tariffication Act, which gave private sector traders full control over rice imports and removed the NFA鈥檚 regulatory power over the rice sector.
Based on Tuesday鈥檚 plenary session, 231 legislators voted for House Bill No. 10381, three said no and one abstained.
鈥淭his bill鈥 signifies a crucial milestone in our efforts to enhance the government鈥檚 ability to stabilize rice prices during emergencies, such as excessive price increases or acute shortages,鈥 Quezon Rep. Wilfrido Mark M. Enverga, who heads the House agriculture committee on Agriculture, told 大象传媒 in a Viber message.
The bill is expected to cut rice prices by much as P15 a kilo. 鈥 Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio
