DA wants gradual rice tariff hikes in Q3 By Ada Pelonia
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HE Department of Agriculture (DA) called for the gradual increase of rice tariffs in the third quarter to prevent the spike in retail prices of the staple grain. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the DA has recommended to the Tariff Commission (TC) that any hike in the rice import duties be imposed gradually and strategically timed to cushion its impact on local and global markets. “Our suggestion is a gradual increase...eventually returning to
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the 35 percent duty,” Laurel said during the House of Representatives’ supercommittee hearing on Wednesday. “To minimize the impact on the local market, we propose timing the tariff hike to coincide with the harvest seasons of our major suppliers—around late September for Vietnam and December for Pakistan,” he explained. The DA chief raised a caveat that an abrupt 20-percentage-point hike could disrupt the rice market and undermine government efforts to stabilize prices since last year. “A sudden increase could shock not only the local market but also
ripple across the global rice trade,” Laurel said. Furthermore, the DA noted that the Philippines plays a “significant role” in global rice pricing due to its demand-supply and regulatory dynamics since it’s among the world’s major rice importers. In 2024, President Marcos issued Executive Order (EO) 62, slashing rice tariffs to 15 percent from 35 percent until 2028. It took effect in July 2024. The agency said Marcos’s move triggered a series of initiatives, including the maximum suggested retail price (MSRP) on 5 percent broken rice variety, which “brought down rice prices.”
It added that the tariff proposal comes at a time of heightened scrutiny of the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL), which was amended last year. While the law liberalized rice imports, it also earmarked tariff revenues for the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), increasing the annual allocation to P30 billion from P10 billion under the revised law. Under EO 62, the tariff scheme is subject to a periodic review every four months from its effectivity. It is set for review again in July, marking a year after the tariff cut on the staple grain came into force.
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‘EDUCATION REFORMS TO SOLVE SKILLS GAPS’ www.businessmirror.com.ph
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Friday, June 13, 2025 Vol. 20 No. 243
P25.00 nationwide | 2 sections 22 pages | 7 DAYS A WEEK
By Andrea E. San Juan @andreasanjuan
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HE Philippines has a “systemic problem” that it must address as the business process outsourcing industry has been seeing low employability rate even among college graduates, according to the IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP). WHY ONLY 10–15% OF GRADUATES QUALIFY FOR IT-BPM JOBS MAIN CAUSE: Increased job complexity and skills mismatch
ROOT CAUSES SKILLS GAP
n Communication skills
IBPAP’S RESPONSE
CURRICULUM ALIGNMENT INITIATIVES
n Partnering with DepEd and CHED n Embedding industry-designed
curriculum early in education
n Problem-solving
n Reading comprehension
n Collaboration across cultures
EARLY INTERVENTION MATTERS
n Skills must be developed early
in the education lifecycle— not just after graduation.
“Unfortunately we are seeing very low employability and this is actually not just for Senior High, even the higher education graduates. We are looking at an anecdotally 10 to 15 percent employability rate and that’s really quite low so that’s an area of focus that
“We are seeing very low employability... not just for Senior High, even Higher Education graduates.” — Frankie Antolin, IBPAP
PILOT PROGRAM
n Expanded Senior
PHILIPPINE SKILLS FRAMEWORK n Mapping key competencies for various job levels
High work immersion From 80 hours 640 hours Combines theory + hands-on experience
LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS START EARLY
n Digital skills & coding in Basic Education
n Promote English as a medium of instruction n Launch PC donation drives for digital access
we have,” Frankie Antolin, IBPAP Executive Director for Talent Attraction and Development told reporters at a recent briefing. Explaining the reason behind the low employability, IBPAP President Jack Madrid said part See “Education,” A2
BM Graphics: Ed Davad
BRIDGING THE SKILLS GAP
FROM SHRINES TO SIDEWALKS, A NATION UNITED IN PRIDE On June 12, 2025, Filipinos across the country honored the 127th Independence Day with powerful displays of patriotism— from historic battlegrounds to everyday spaces. In Cavite, Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo led the wreath-laying and flag-raising at the Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, while Imus City officials held a simultaneous flag ceremony at the site of the Battle of Alapan—both symbols of the country’s hard-won freedom. Far from the spotlight, a waiter in Antipolo quietly arranged the Philippine flag outside a clubhouse—an unsung tribute echoing the spirit of modern-day heroes. On the streets of Manila, a vendor’s colorful flags waved proudly, capturing the energy of the nation in celebration. Commuters, too, felt the independence spirit with free MRT-3 and LRT-2 rides during peak hours, part of the government’s initiative to ease travel and deepen appreciation for national milestones. DENNIS ABRINA, NONIE REYES, NONOY LACZA, MAU VICTA
PHL OUT OF TOP 10 COUNTRIES AGAIN IN GENDER GAP INDEX By Cai U. Ordinario
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@caiordinario
HE Philippines marked its 6th year out of the world’s top 10 countries when it comes to the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Global Gender Gap Index (GGGI). The country is now ranked 20th globally, a five-notch improvement from its 2024 performance on the back of a 0.2 percentage-point increase in its overall gender parity score. Nonetheless, the Philippines remains to be the best place to be a woman in East Asia and the Pacific, after New Zealand and Australia. “The Philippines ranks 20th
in 2025 with an overall score of 78.1 percent. Compared to the previous year, the economy has climbed five positions in the ranking, with a 0.2 percentagepoint increase in its overall gender parity score,” the report stated. “Regionally, the Philippines retains its 3rd position in the Eastern Asia and the Pacific block, behind New Zealand and Australia, as it did last year,” it added. The index is composed of four subindexes, namely, economic participation and opportunity; educational attainment; health and survival; and political empowerment. See “PHL,” A2
PHL envoy FlorCruz leads Independence Day rites in Beijing, hails heroes, friendship By Wes Cabangon
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EIJING—In a stirring celebration of the 127th Anniversary of Philippine Independence, Philippine Ambassador to China Jaime A. FlorCruz paid tribute to Filipino and Filipino-Chinese heroes while championing the enduring and evolving friendship between the Philippines and China. Held at the Grand Hyatt Beijing, the diplomatic reception also marked the 50th anniversary of formal diplomatic relations between the two countries. The event gathered dignitaries from the Chinese government, foreign embassies, and notable members of the Filipino-Chinese business community. “We celebrate the 127th Anniversary of the Declaration of Philippine Independence with the theme, ‘Free-
Amb. Jaime FlorCruz and H.E. Liu Jinsong, Director-General of the Department of Asian Affairs of the China Ministry of Foreign Affairs during the Cake-Cutting ceremony to kick off the event.
Dignitaries view placards showcasing featured individuals from the #MadeItInChina series—highlighting inspiring stories of Filipinos who have built successful careers in China across various fields.
dom, Future, History,’” said Ambassador FlorCruz in his address. “It was on June 12—127 years ago—when our Filipino people declared independence from colonial rule and asserted our freedom as a nation.” FlorCruz evoked a shared legacy
of courage by recalling the World War II-era alliance between Filipino freedom fighters and the Chinese-Filipino guerrilla force known as WhaChi. “Ours is a story of honor, camaraderie and bravery in the fight for independence and self-determination,” he said.
Prominent Filipino business leaders also flew in to mark the occasion and express support for closer Philippines-China ties. Among them were Special Envoy Maynard Ngu, Mr. Salvador “Buddy” Zamora, and Mr. Carlos Chan, whose contributions to business and diplomacy exemplify the growing economic synergy between the two nations. The ambassador emphasized that the celebration was not only about historic events, but also about people— past and present—who have bridged cultures and forged lasting connections. “Tonight, I wish to put the spotlight on people—the many men and women who have been building bridges of friendship between the Philippines and China,” he said. See “FlorCruz,” A2
PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 55.7620 n JAPAN 0.3850 n UK 75.2899 n HK 7.1054 n CHINA 7.7587 n SINGAPORE 43.3507 n AUSTRALIA 36.3624 n EU 63.7081 n KOREA 0.0409 n SAUDI ARABIA 14.8683 Source: BSP (June 11, 2025)