PASSAGE of the proposed Rice Industry and Consumer Empowerment (RICE) Act or RICE Act is expected to be fast-tracked in the 20th Congress, citing the track record of the House of Representatives under the leadership of reelected Leyte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez during the previous Congress.
Meanwhile, another bill filed by Romualdez provides that the 20-percent discount and exemption from the 12-percent value added tax enjoyed by senior citizens and persons with disability will be on top of any promotional offer or discount given by business establishments.
The proposed law is titled “An Act enhancing the discount on the purchase of goods and services of senior citizens and persons with disabilities.”
“We are looking back to the 19th Congress where we saw how productive the 19th Congress was in issuing and passing laws,” House spokesperson lawyer Princess Abante said, adverting to the chamber’s previous performance as a precedent for swift legislative action.
“With the continued unity of its members, we will see the faster progress of bills especially for these kinds of legislations that answer the basic needs of Filipinos,” she added.
The bill is co-authored by Tingog party-list Reps. Andrew Julian Romualdez and Jude Acidre.
The proposed RICE Act, or House Bill (HB) 1, was the first bill filed at the start of the 20th Congress, reflecting its legislative priority status.
It seeks to reorganize and strengthen the National Food Authority (NFA) in order to reduce rice prices, empower Filipino farmers, and stabilize the country’s grain supply.
Under the bill, the NFA will be authorized to buy palay at competitive prices, manage buffer stocks and directly sell affordable rice to consumers during periods of price volatility.
Filed by Romualdez, the measure aligns with President Marcos’ food security agenda and complements other legislative priorities related to public health, education and regional development.
Abante emphasized that such alignment between the Executive and Legislative branches boosts the chances of swift passage.
“I don’t think anyone is against having affordable rice for our people,” said Abante.
She said there is broad political support for affordable food programs, especially those that protect both ends of the supply chain – the rice farmers and the consuming public.
The bill is designed to benefit low-income households the most, amid persistent inflationary pressures on essential commodities.
Abante also stressed that the House will engage relevant government agencies in refining and strengthening the RICE bill as deliberations unfolded.
“We are looking forward to working with the rest of the members of the House of Representatives and the 20th Congress along with agencies, appropriate agencies to discuss the things that need to be discussed in order to strengthen and make this bill even better,” she noted.
She stressed that the RICE Act is among several key measures filed early by Romualdez, signaling the House’s legislative direction.
Romualdez explained that his measure on added benefits for seniors and the PWDs “aims to preserve the preferential treatment accorded to senior citizens and persons with disabilities by mandating the State to adopt an integrated approach on how to make essential programs and other social services available to them in an attainable and convenient manner.”
Romualdez is also the principal author of Republic Act (RA) 10754, or the Act Expanding the Benefits and Privileges of Persons with Disability (PWDs).
During the 16th Congress, RA 10754 was signed into law on March 23, 2016, by then-President Benigno Aquino III. It allowed millions of PWDs to be exempt from the 12-percent value-added tax (VAT) on select goods and services.
“This is in line with the State policy of promoting a just and dynamic social order that shall ensure the nation’s prosperity and free its people from poverty,” he and his co-authors, Reps. Andrew Julian K. Romualdez and Jude A. Acidre said.
The bill provides: “The discount granted to senior citizens and persons with disabilities, including the twenty percent (20%) discount and exemption from the value-added tax (VAT) on goods and services, or the special discount on purchase of basic necessities and prime commodities, as provided under Section 4 of Republic Act (RA) No. 7432, otherwise known as “Senior Citizens Act,” as amended, and Section 32 of RA No. 7277, otherwise known as “Magna Carta for Disabled Persons with Disability,” as amended, shall be in addition to any prevailing promotional offers or discounts extended by business establishments, if any, has been provided, but in no way that it will require presentation of booklets in the procurement of goods.”
The measure further states: “In no case shall a promotion or discount offered by a business establishment to the general public be considered in compliance with Section 4 of RA No. 7432, as amended, and 14 Section 32 of RA 7277, as amended.”
Rep. Martin Romualdez said the proposed measure is aimed at putting an “end or to quell the usual quarrels between senior citizens and PWDs, on one hand, and business establishments, on the other, as to the correct interpretation of the law.”
“To balance the interest between the two parties, this measure provides that the 20 discount for senior citizens or persons with disabilities applied on certain goods and services, the input tax attributable to the VAT- exempt sale to senior citizens and persons with disabilities, and the special discount on basic necessities and prime commodities, shall be treated as part of deductible expense pursuant to Section 34 of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended,” Romualdez said.