Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 8) — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the Department of Agriculture (DA) to use excess collections for the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) to help rice farmers, Malacañang said Sunday.
In a recent meeting, Marcos told DA officials to use excess collections beyond the ₱10-billion requirement of the RCEF to provide drying, mechanization, and other equipment to sustain the rice farmers’ productivity, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said.
The ₱10-billion yearly requirement for the RCEF comes from revenues collected from rice tariffs to fund programs and projects improving the competitiveness and output of palay farmers.
Marcos also has assured the public of the continuation of assistance to small farmers likely affected by the lifting of the price cap on rice on Oct. 4, almost a month after the implementation of the policy that aimed to mitigate the high prices of the commodity.
“Lalakihan natin ang galing sa Rice Tariffication Law at ibibigay natin sa ating mga farmer sa pamamagitan ng mga equipment, mga tractor, mga harvest, mga dryer,” he said.
[Translation: We will increase what we get from the Rice Tariffication Law, and we will give it to farmers in the form of equipment, tractors, harvest, dryers.]
Marcos also ordered the Department of Interior and Local Government to direct local government units to rationalize pass-through fees and other transport costs imposed on vehicles transporting goods like rice, the PCO said.
He earlier issued Executive Order 41 to suspend the fee collection.
