Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 8) — The Department of Agriculture has allocated a ₱454-million budget to boost Cebu’s agricultural sector next year.
In a statement on Tuesday, Agriculture Secretary William Dar said this is higher than the current year’s allocation of ₱431 million. He explained this will be used to support initiatives to increase agricultural production in the province.
DA Regional Director Salvador Diputado said ₱31 million will be used for the development of high-value crops, ₱24 million for corn, ₱19 million for rice, ₱13 million for livestock, and ₱2 million for organic agriculture.
Moreover, ₱363 million has been allocated for the construction of 29.4 kilometers of farm-to-market roads across the province.
Meanwhile, the department also launched its Cash and Food Subsidy for Marginal Farmers and Fisherfolk on December 7 in Pinamungajan, Cebu. Among those who received assistance are sugarcane farmers, coconut farmers, and fishers enrolled in Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture, Dar said.
This program is funded by the ₱4.5-billion budget under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act or Bayanihan 2. Some 900,000 marginal farmers and fisherfolk are seen to benefit from the P5,000 food and cash aid, the DA said.
Dar also said that distribution of the excess tariff collected from rice imports to rice farmers tilling one hectare of rice land and below will start early 2021. This is in line with the approval in October of the Senate resolution authorizing the distribution of financial assistance to rice farmers who cultivate small lands.
Under Republic Act No. 11203, or the Rice Tariffication Law, duties from rice imports will be used to fund the annual Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund of ₱10 billion. The Bureau of Customs has recorded excess collection of ₱2 billion in 2019 and ₱3 billion in 2020.
A House resolution of the same purpose was also filed in November 2019, still pending the approval of the committee on agriculture.
