SWSI: Farmers are not subsidized by the government

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Solidarity of Workers in the Sugar Industry (SWSI) yesterday held a press conference to demonstrate against RA 11203, or the “rice tariffication law,” which was recently ratified by President Rodrigo Duterte. The protesting farmers called the law an “ominous warning.”

They claim the “unrestricted entry of imported rice” will force a decline in the price of rice.

“Local farmers cannot compete in the market against cheap and imported rice,” they argued.

The group also said farmers are not subsidized by the government and claim they are left to borrow from their “comprador,” or rice trader, who they accused of controlling and manipulating the domestic rice industry.

Parallel to arguments raised against the proposal to liberalize the importation of sugar, claiming it would kill the domestic sugar industry, SWSI suggested the same outcome for the rice industry with the passage of the said law.

“Workers must be treated with dignity and respect,” the group stated./DGB, WDJ