Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 12) — A measure that would allow government agencies to use the remaining ₱6.97-billion rice subsidy fund to buy palay (unhusked rice) from local farmers cleared Congress on Tuesday.
The House of Representatives, voting 206-0, approved on third and final reading House Joint Resolution No. 22 which seeks to mandate government agencies to use the rice subsidy fund provided under the General Appropriations Act to buy palay directly from farmers, instead of rolling out cash assistance.
Under the proposal, the Social Welfare department would distribute actual rice instead of cash assistance as rice subsidy to qualified beneficiaries.
The Senate passed a similar measure last week.
The chambers of Congress may convene a bicameral conference committee to thresh out any differences between the two measures they passed or one of the houses can just adopt the resolution passed by the other house.
After this, the measure will be sent to President Rodrigo Duterte for his signature.
Farmers’ groups have complained that the rice tariffication law, which lifted import restrictions on rice, has led to lower palay prices, due to an oversupply in the market.
President Rodrigo Duterte previously ordered the National Food Authority to purchase farmers’ rice harvest amid the price slump, advising the agency to set a reasonable price with the farmers.
