The Bangsamoro Parliament has urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to permit traders in Tawi-Tawi to directly import rice from Malaysia tax-free to address the high prices of the staple in the island-province, which is geographically closer to Sabah, Malaysia, than to Zamboanga City in the Philippines. The interim body, also known as the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), adopted this special and time-bound resolution on January 20, proposed by Members of Parliament John Anthony Lim, Jose Lorena, and Nabil Tan. They highlighted that Tawi-Tawi relies on rice supplies from distant domestic ports like Zamboanga, where high shipping, fuel, and logistics costs drive up prices, placing a heavy burden on households, particularly low-income families, and worsening food insecurity. The resolution emphasized that Sabah is a more practical and cost-efficient source of rice, suggesting that regulated, zero-tariff imports could reduce logistics costs, stabilize supply, and lower prices. This measure is a humanitarian intervention aimed at addressing food security in a geographically disadvantaged area and does not endorse unauthorized trade. Lorena noted that rice prices in Tawi-Tawi have risen to at least P2,000 per sack, stressing the urgency of addressing the issue. In November 2023, President Marcos signed Executive Order 105, imposing a 15% tariff on rice imports, adjustable based on international rice price fluctuations, with a cap of 35%.
