MANILA, Nov. 18 -- SenatorFrancis Pangilinan on Tuesday urged economic managers to promptly issue the new rice tariff-setting guidelines and release the remaining PHP13-billion balance under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF).

He warned that continued delays are affecting farmers' preparations for the next harvest.

Pangilinan noted that economic managers earlier committed to release the revised tariff guidelines within the first week of December.

With the deadline approaching, he said any setback would heighten uncertainty for rice farmers planning for the February-March harvest.

"Huwag natin paghintayin ang mga magpapalay. Huwag maligaw sa burukrasya ang bagong rice tariff-setting guidelines at ang natitirang unreleased...