Press Release - Opening Statement of Senator Cynthia A. Villar

This Public Hearing is the continuation of the hearing on the Proposed Amendments to Republic Act No. 11203 or the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL), particularly extending the life of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), held on June 13, 2024.

Last week, my staff and our secretariat support visited Isabela and Nueva Ecija and held technical working group and focus group discussions with our farmers and stakeholders on the RTL amendments and other bills of the Committee that are on deck for approval into law. The visits allowed them to actually see projects and programs now being implemented, and the ones being suggested to be funded by the RCEF going forward. Also, the trips enabled them to hear the true sentiments of our farmer-heroes and other stakeholders.

We would like to put on record that we received the following Resolutions from Farmer Cooperatives and Associations (FCAs) from different parts of the country expressing their appreciation of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) and support to the extension of the RTL:

1. Resolution No. 07, Series of 2024 - from Makabilog Maynabo Tambo Irrigators Associatio, NIA Road Brgy. Las Piñas Peñaranda, Nueva Ecija

A Resolution Expressing Our Appreciation To The Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Program And To Our Honorable Senator Cynthia A. Villar, Author Of Republic Act No. 11203 Known As The Rice Tariffication Law

2. Board Resolution Reporting their Full Utilization of the Machinery Given by RCEFand Expressing Gratitude to RCEF and Senator Villar for the Machinery - from Ginintuang Butil Farmers Association, Brgy. San Juan de Mata, Tarlac City, Tarlac

3. Resolution No. 5, Series of 2024 - from Bulacan Farmers Agriculture, Cooperative, Pala-Pala, San Ildefonso, Bulacan

A Resolution Supporting And Upholding The Renewal Of RA 11203 Known As Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Sponsored By Cynthia A. Villar, Senate Chairman On Agriculture

4. Resolution Blg. 1 Taong 2024 - from Asosasyon ng Magbubukid ng Gatid, Barangay Gatid, Santa Cruz, Laguna

Katitikang Hinilaw Sa Pangkaraniwang Pulong Ng Assosyan Ng Magbubukid Ng Gatid (AMAG) Na Ginanap Noong Ika 14-Hunyo, 2024sa Bahay Pulungan, Gatid,