P3-B aid distributed to rice farmers in 33 provinces

The distribution of P3-billion worth of cash assistance to small farmers in the country who bore the brunt of the drop in the prices of palay last year is ongoing, according to Agriculture Secretary William Dar on Friday.

"The P3 billion is now being given to those farmers in 33 provinces affected by the falling prices of palay," Dar said, noting that the distribution was first rolled out in Pangasinan and Nueva Ecija last December.

"We're hoping that within the whole month of January maibigay na lahat," he added.

Those 33 provinces were recommended by the Philippine Rice Research Institute to receive financial aid after a thorough study on the impact of the changes in prices of palay to the local farmers, he said.

Around 600,000 farmers are expected to receive P5,000 each from the said unconditional cash grant which was sourced from excess government funds in 2019, according to Dar.

Another P3 billion of cash assistance will be distributed to farmers this year, he added.

Further, the Agriculture chief said that P5 billion-worth of farm equipment from the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) is expected to be distributed to Filipino farmers before the harvest time in the dry season.

RCEF is part of the Rice Tariffication Law which President Rodrigo Duterte enacted in 2019, removing quantitative restrictions on rice imports and setting a 35% tariff for shipments from Southeast Asia.

The farmgate prices of palay spiraled down as the impact of the influx of imported rice.

Dar, however, maintained that the RCEF will be a game-changer once properly utilized.

He also appealed to the critics of the Rice Tariffication Law not to nip it in the bud and instead give it a chance to be implemented. —NB, GMA News