Pangilinan seeks P13 billion aid for farmers amid palay price drop

MANILA, Philippines—Senator Francis Pangilinan is pushing for the amendment of the Rice Tariffication Law to help local farmers cope with the plummeting palay prices by allowing a P13 billion immediate cash assistance to rice farmers.

In a joint resolution filed late Thursday afternoon, Pangilinan said the assistance for rice farmers may be sourced out from the fund balance for the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) and the P9.19 billion collected tariffs from rice importation from March 5 to August 31.

“Our rice farmers and the rice industry face an emergency situation. And we have the money that can be given to our suffering farmers,” Pangilinan said in a statement Friday.

A joint resolution can fast-track amendments to existing laws but like a bill, it requires the approval of both chambers in identical form and the president’s signature to become law. 

A joint resolution is generally used for a single item or issue, such as a continuing or emergency appropriations bill.

Farmers’ groups have asked for government intervention after the farm-gate price of palay plunged down to as low as P7 per kilo following the implementation of the rice tariffication law, which President Duterte signed in February this year.

READ: Duterte signs rice tariffication bill into law

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has already allocated P1.5 billion for P15,000 no-interest loans to farmers.

But, Pangilinan pointed out that DA’s program is “terribly insufficient” as it only covers those farming one hectare and below, affecting only about 100,000 of the 2.11 million Filipino rice farmers.

“And how will this help the landless farmer who most need help. This is terribly insufficient to compensate for their loss of income, which is estimated to be at least P60 billion,” he said. /je