Marcos to DA: Use RCEF to help farmers

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the Department of Agriculture (DA) to utilize the excess collections of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) to assist rice farmers and boost the country's rice production and supply.

The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said the directive was issued during the Chief Executive's meeting with DA officials in the Palace last week.

The RCEF excess collection beyond the P10 billion requirement should be used to provide drying, mechanization and other equipment support to rice farmers to sustain their productivity.

Under Republic Act 11203 or the «Rice Tariffication Law» (RTL), revenues collected from rice tariffs should pay for the yearly requirement of P10 billion for the RCEF to bankroll programs and projects raising the competitiveness and output of palay farmers.

«In the same meeting, the President also ordered the Department of the Interior and Local Government to enjoin all local government units to rationalize the pass-through fees and other transport costs imposed on motor vehicles transporting goods like rice and other products while passing through local public roads to facilitate the faster and more economical transport of rice,» the PCO said.

Marcos issued Executive Order (EO) 41 on September 25, prohibiting LGUs from collecting toll fees from vehicles transporting goods or merchandise while passing through national roads and other thoroughfares not constructed or funded by them to significantly lessen transportation and logistics costs.

He also approved the release of P12.7 billion, which will be distributed to 2.3 million small rice farmers who will each receive P5,000 in financial assistance under the government's Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RFFA) program.

Additionally, the President ordered the distribution of financial assistance to small rice farmers who will be affected by the lifting of EO 39, which sets the mandated price ceiling on regular and well-milled rice.

«We will increase allocation from the Rice Tariffication Law and give them to farmers through the distribution of equipment, tractors, harvesters and dryers,» Marcos previously said.