Customs Commission Bienvenido Rubio said that the rice tariff collection had reached P16.81 billion from January to August 26 from the rice imports, making it increase by nearly P17 billion.

According to Rubio, the said collection represented 75% of the total P22.74 billion in revenue from import duties last year.

Moreover, despite the decline in import volume to 2.257 million metric tons (MT) from 2.675 million MT in August of last year, government collections still increased.

Meanwhile, the latest collection exceeds the mandated annual appropriation of P10 billion to fun programs in farm mechanization, seed development, propagation and promotion, credit assistance, and extension services.