PARA higit na palakasin ang proteksyon ng local rice producers at tugon sa apela ng stakeholders sa rice industry, ini-sponsor ni Senator Cynthia Villar ang extension at amendments Rice Tarification Law (RTL) o Republic Act No. 11203 na bumuo sa Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) mula sa tariff collections sa imported rice.
Nakapaloob ito sa Committee Report 282 entitled, An Act Amending RA 8178 or the Agricultural Tariffication Act of 1996,” as amended by RA 11203-
Naisabatas noong 2019, tinanggal ng RTL ang quantitative restrictions sa bigas. Nagkaroon ng taripa para matiyak ang proteksyonng Filipino rice producers.
Inamiyendan ng Rice Tariffication Act ang Agricultural Tariffication Act of 1996 (RA 8178).
Tinitiyak nito na direktang makikinabang ang mga magsasaka sa liberalization ng rice trading sa pagkakaloob mg P10 billion kada taon sa RCEF hanggang 2024.
“The RCEF provided P5 billion for the free distribution of farm machinery and equipment, P3 billion for free distribution of high quality inbred certified seeds, and P1 billion for credit support and another P1 billion for training of rice farmers,” ayon kay Villar.
Mapupunta ang sobrang koleksyon sa P10 billion pondo sa Rice Farmer Financial Assistance (RFFA) sa ilalimng RA 11598 na naging epektibo noong March 5, 2019 na mag e-expire din sa 2024.
Noong May 14, 2024, sinabi ni Villar na ang Senate Panel ay nag- convene ng congressional oversight committee on agricultural and fisheries modernization.
Matapos ang mga pulong, nakipag dayalogo sila sa stakeholders at mga mambabatas.
Ang mga salient features ng batas ay ang mga sumusunod:
1. Extension for another six years or until 2031.
2. Total Amount Covered: P30B sourced from tariff on imported rice any deficiency shall be supplemented by the GAA.
3. Strengthening the DA – Bureau of Plant Industry Regulatory Functions including registration and data basing of all grains warehouses.
4. Empowering the DA Secretary to respond to a declaration of rice food shortage and extraordinary increase of rice prices, where the DA can sell through government agencies such hospitals and jails and Kadiwa outlets and replenish through procurement of locally produced rice from farmers and farmers’ coop.
5. DA to import when no available locally produced rice. And it shall designate an importing authority except the NFA, the proceeds of sale shall revert to the buffer fund.
6. Disposal of aging stock with NFA shall be 4 week before expiration.
7. The President can prohibit further importation or specify the volume to be imported during excessive supply of both imported and locally produced rice in the market, for a specific period and volume.
8. Creation of the Program Management Office that will monitor both the RCEF and the National Rice Program.
9. Engage the services of an independent and Mid-term and End Term Evaluation of the RCEF to assess the performance the result of which to be submitted and discussed with the COCAFM.
Distribution of the Fund
| Rice Farm Machineries and Equipment | Php9B |
| High Quality Inbred Rice Seeds, Propagation, Distribution and Promotion | Php6B |
| Financial Assistance to Rice Farmers tilling 2 hectares and below (2.4M farmers) | Php8B |
| Expanded Rice Credit Assistance | Php2B |
| Training and Extension a. TESDA for farm schools- Php1B b. ATI – Php500M c. PhilMech – P300M* (to include training for the establishment of repair, fabrication and maintenance centers nationwide) d. PhilRice – P200M e. BSWM – P200M |
Php2.2B |
| Solar-Powered Water Irrigation or Water Impounding Irrigation Project | Php1.4B |
| Composting Facilities for Biodegradable Wastes | Php1.4B |
| TOTAL | 30B |
“These are substantial as the sentiments of the stakeholders with 181 farmers groups is a resounding request that the law be extended with amendments,” pahayag ni Villar
