Senate panel OKs distribution of cash aid for rice farmers using surplus from RCEF

The Senate committee on agriculture on Friday approved a joint resolution seeking to distribute direct cash aid to Filipino rice farmers using the surplus from the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF).

Senate Joint Resolution No. 12 seeks to include everything in excess of the P10-billion RCEF in 2020 to the budget for the next fiscal year so that these may be distributed as direct cash assistance to rice farmers who till less than one hectare of land.

Senator Cynthia Villar, citing a preliminary figure, said the amount in excess of the RCEF is about 3.6 billion, based on the collected duties under the Rice Tariffication Law from January to September 2020 alone.

During the hearing, Villar added that the excess from the 2019 collection of rice taxes from rice imports must also be distributed as cash aid.

"Whatever money we can raise in excess of Rice Tariffication we just give as financial assistance to the rice farmers kasi ang daming complaint na bumaba daw ang price ng rice because of this, because of that," she said.

"Lahat ng excess ng tariff, para huwag na nilang sisihin 'yung Rice Tarrification Law, ibigay natin lahat ng excess sa kanila. That's the power of the legislators, it's written in the law, to determine kung saan dadalhin iyon," she added.

Agriculture Secretary William Dar expressed full support to the resolution and said there are about 1.1 million rice farmers who till only one hectare of land and below.

Under the Rice Tariffication Law, which was signed in February 2019, the government should earmark P10 billion annually for the RCEF for six years.

From this fund, P5 billion will be allocated to rice farm machinery and equipment; P3 billion for rice seeds; P1 billion for expanded credit assistance; and P1 billion for rice extension services such as training for farmers.

Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan said the rice farmers would greatly benefit from this cash assistance to be generated from the RCEF surplus.

"Because there is excess palay during the second half of the year, 60% of our palay production is in the last quarter, talagang bagsak ang presyo. Makikinabang ho talaga ang ating rice farmers dito sa ayuda," he said.

A joint resolution requires the approval of both chambers of Congress and needs the signature of the President to have the force and effect of a law.

The Senate panel vowed to fast-track the process and also requested commitment from the Department of Agriculture to be able to distribute the cash aid as soon as possible.—AOL, GMA News