Press Release - Imee: Extend annual P10 B rice fund to farmers up to 2031

Senator Imee Marcos is pushing for the continued yearly appropriation up to 2031 of P10 billion to support rice farmers through the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), also known as the Rice Fund.

The Rice Tariffication Law provides that the Rice Fund shall be in effect for a period of 6 years, beginning 2019 and ending in 2025.

"Pagkatapos ng 6 years, ang tax doon hindi na mapupunta sa magsasaka. Ang gusto natin, tuloy-tuloy yan hanggang 2031, hindi 2025... para pakinabangan yung kukulektahin na buwis, ipamigay sa PHilMEC (Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization), sa Philrice (Philippine Rice Research Institute), ibigay na rin sa LGU (local government unit) at coop na may kakayahan, may purchase order na sila para sa bigas.

"Sila na rin ang mamili para sila na ang magmi-milling at sila na ang magba-buyback mula sa ating magsasaka. Makakatulong yun 'pag nagkasundo tayo sa isang minimum price para hindi naman luging lugi ang ating farmers," Marcos explained in a radio interview (DZRH) Tuesday.

The Rice Fund, created to improve the competitiveness of rice farmers and increase their income amid the liberalization of the local rice trade policy, is composed of 1) rice farm mechanization; 2) inbred rice seed development, propagation, and promotion; 3) expanded rice credit assistance; and 4) rice extension services.

Marcos stressed the rice problem "is not an ordinary emergency" and "will not be solved overnight," thus the need for "all hands to be on deck.

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) projects rice inflation to "increase strongly" until July this year as worldwide supply of the commodity remains thin, and El Niño continues to cause damage on farmlands.

"Para sa akin, dapat magkaroon ng sabihin nating presidential commission or something like that o task force. Kasi hindi naman maso-solve itong problema natin ng bigas overnight. At kailangan talaga all hands on deck. Hindi ito ordinaryong emergency. And rice is life," she explained.

"Never yan ordinaryong produkto, talagang buhay ng Pilipino yan. Ang kailangan talaga natin dyan, lahat all hands on deck, magtulungan kung papaano. Ayaw natin sa NFA (National Food Authority)