House Speaker Martin Romualdez on Tuesday lauded President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to Department of Agriculture (DA) officials to use excess collections for the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) to help rice farmers boost agricultural production and ensure a steady food supply for Filipinos.

In a statement, Romualdez said excess collections from rice tariffs channeled into supporting rice farmers will enable them to access modern farming technologies, improve their agricultural practices, and increase their productivity.

“This gesture manifests the unwavering resolve of President Marcos Jr. to boost agricultural production, particularly of rice, to ensure a stable supply of food for every Filipino family at affordable prices and uplift the lives of our farmers,” he said.

The Presidential Communications Office (PCO), citing the President’s recent meeting with DA officials, said the RCEF excess collection beyond the PHP10 billion requirement should be used to provide drying, mechanization, and other equipment support to rice farmers to sustain their productivity.

Republic Act (RA) 11203 or the Rice Tariffication Act states that revenues collected from rice tariffs should pay for the yearly requirement of PHP10 billion for the RCEF to fund programs and projects that will raise the competitiveness and output of palay (unhusked rice) farmers.

Romualdez said through the additional assistance, the President wants to help cut production costs of rice farmers, which would eventually translate to lower rice prices for the consumers.

“Moreover, this initiative will foster resilience within our agricultural sector, ensuring that we continue to meet our domestic rice requirements and reduce our dependence on rice imports,” he added.

Romualdez earlier vowed that the House would provide around PHP40 billion in additional funding for irrigation projects under the 2024 national budget to support the President’s goal to increase agricultural production in the country.

Aside from the use of excess RCEF collections, President Marcos also recently approved the release of PHP12.7 billion assistance to rice farmers.

The amount will be distributed to 2.3 million small rice farmers who will each get PHP5,000 under the Rice Farmers Financial Assistance program of the government.

The financial assistance is part of the government’s efforts to support small rice farmers who will be affected by the lifting of the price cap on rice.

The National Food Authority Council, chaired by Marcos, also increased NFA’s buying prices of palay from PHP19 to PHP23 per kilo for dry palay and PHP16 to PHP19 per kilo for wet palay to give Filipino farmers better income.

Marcos also ordered the Department of the Interior and Local Government to enjoin all local government units (LGUs) to rationalize the pass-through fees and other transport costs imposed on motor vehicles transporting goods like rice and other products, according to the PCO.

Executive Order 41, issued by President Marcos on Sept. 25, prohibits LGUs from collecting toll fees and charges from all vehicles transporting goods or merchandise while passing through national roads and other thoroughfares not built or funded by them. (PNA)