Philippine National Economic and Development Authority cites urgency for rice tariff this year.

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) has cited urgency in the passage of the Agricultural Tariffication Act to protect local farmers from cheaper imported rice as the measure remains pending nearly a year since the Philippines gave up the import quota protection of the World Trade Organization (WTO). Mercedita Sombilla, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Director of Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Environment Staff, said “the government already knows the urgency for the bill to be passed so it is just right for it to be passed within the year.