IATF approves P31B supplemental budget for DA

The P31-billion supplemental budget for the Department of Agriculture (DA) is now up for approval by President Rodrigo Duterte, after securing the go-ahead signal from the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID).

In a statement on Sunday, the DA said the IATF-EID approved on Friday, March 27, the requested P31-billion supplemental budget to bankroll a national "Plant, Plant, Plant Program" to ensure food sufficiency during the enhanced community quarantine.

"The DA's P31-billion supplemental budget will be endorsed by the IATF-EID to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte for his consideration and approval," the statement read.

From 12:00 a.m. on March 17, the entire Luzon was placed on enhanced community quarantine until April 13, 2020, restricting travel within the region in efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19.

"It was among the several recommendations approved by the task force that include unhampered transport of all farm and fishery products, and supplies used for farming and fishing, including food packaging and manufacturing materials," said Agriculture Secretary William Dar.

Last week, the DA said the additional amount will be used for the implementation of the Ahon Lahat, Pagkaing Sapat Kontra sa COVID-19 (ALPAS COVID-19) program.

The P31-billion supplemental budget includes:

• P7.5 billion - rice resiliency project;
• P7 billion - palay procurement fund of the National Food Authority;
• P3 billion - expanded SURE Aid and recovery project;
• P3 billion - expanded agriculture insurance project;
• P3 billion - social amelioration for farmers and farm workers;
• P1 billion - upscaling of KADIWA ni Ani at Kita;
• P1 billion - integrated livestock and corn resiliency project;
• P1 billion - expanded small ruminants and poultry project;
• P1 billion - coconut-based diversification project;
• P1 billion - fisheries resiliency project;
• P1 billion - revitalized gulayan project;
• P500 million - urban agriculture project;
• P500 million - acquisition of protective personal equipment;
• P300 million - corn for food project; and
• P200 million - information, education and communications project.

"The Task Force also reiterated that farmers, fishers, and workers in agri-fishery production, processing and manufacturing enterprises, including those involved in the entire food value chain are exempted from the curfew imposed in observance of the enhanced community quarantine," said Dar.

"In all, we have enough food for the next two months. We are enhancing needed measures to ensure food security in strong cooperation with all sectors, most particularly with all provincial governors, city and municipal mayors, and barangay leaders in ensuring the unhampered transport of agricultural products and farm and fishery inputs, including movement of farmers, fishers, and workers in the food value chain," he added. —Jon Viktor Cabuenas/LBG, GMA News