Duterte never ordered 'unimpeded importation' of rice, Agri chief says

MANILA, Philippines — What unimpeded importation of rice?

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol on Monday disputed former presidential spokesman Harry Roque's statement that President Duterte had ordered the "unimpeded importation of rice," saying the policy would be an "injustice" to Filipinos.

Piñol said Duterte never used the phrase "unimpeded importation of rice" to refer to his policy to liberalize the importation of rice to ensure enough supply of the staple. 

"You know, I do not want to discredit the statement of Secretary Roque, because I think it was Secretary Roque who used the words 'unimpeded importation'...The president never used the word 'unimpeded importation,'" Piñol said in a press briefing in Malacañang.

Roque announced that Duterte had ordered the unimpeded importation of rice in a press briefing last October 9. 

"The president ordered the unimpeded importation of rice, he wants to flood the market with rice so that if the prices of crude and other oil prices should go up a step further, that the people should have access to affordable rice," Roque is quoted as saying then. 

But Piñol said Monday: "Indeed, he (Duterte) said let's flood the market with rice. But to say that importation will be unimpeded, would mean like throwing away all of the rules in the book and just allowing just everybody to load rice in the boat and bring it to the Philippines."

RELATED: Why Duterte's order of 'unimpeded' rice imports is harder than it sounds

'Farmers nervous about imports'

Piñol said the pronouncement that the government has allowed the unimpeded importation of rice made farmers nervous.

"The president never used the word 'unimpeded importation' because that would be a disservice and injustice to the Filipino people," the Agriculture chief stressed. 

Piñol also clarified that groups who want to import rice still need to get clearance from the National Food Authority. 

"You cannot just say that the NFA will have no more role in the importation because that would effectively throw away the mandate of the NFA into the waste basket. We will just liberalize the importation but we will still follow processes," he said. 

Piñol noted that under the law, the NFA is responsible for accrediting importers. 

"Full liberalization means you allow importation to come in but still based on guidelines prescribed by law," he added. 

Duterte has certified as urgent the passage of the rice tariffication bill, which aims to lift the quantitative restriction on rice and replace it with a tariff.

Supporters of the measure claim it would solve artificial rice shortages, ensure enough supply and cut rice prices.