SOME 21,119 rice farmers in Pampanga will benefit from the P107 million allotment of the Department of Agriculture (DA) under its Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund-Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RCEF-RFFA) program.
During the program's launching on Tuesday, November 9, 2021, more than a hundred farmers in Guagua town received cash aid from DA.
Secretary William Dar disclosed that qualified rice farmers with landholdings of up to two hectares and enrolled in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) will receive unconditional cash assistance worth P5,000 through the IMC or the Interventions Monitoring Card that serves as an identification and cashcard to qualified beneficiaries.
"Before our term ends, we want to make sure that our (DA's) programs and projects help and bring relief to our farmers and fisherfolk," the secretary said.
Tariff
Dar added the assistance being distributed to farmers is one of the outcomes of the Rice Tariffication Law.
"This helped because we collected P10 billion tariff per year and the excess of the amount was given to farmers as aid. This is aside from the fact that since the passage of the law, there was no rice inflation and the funds of the National Food Authority are used to buy from local farmers instead of importing. Lands for rice planting have also increased," he said.
Loreta Nacu, one of the program beneficiaries, thanked the government for its constant support of the agriculture sector.
"This is a huge help to us farmers because whenever we are in need, you are always there for us. Our barrio is very grateful for your help, concern, and efforts to uplift the farmers. Thank you very much," she said.
Another beneficiary, Comfesor Jingco, reiterated the benefit of the Rice Tariffication Law in helping farmers.
"The (Rice Tariffication) law is a huge help to farmers by providing interventions such as seeds, machinery for associations or cooperatives, and financial assistance. Through this, we can buy what we need in farming to boost our production," Jingco said.
Meanwhile, Pineda stressed that the farmers need not pay anything to be included in the program.
In Central Luzon, DA targets to distribute P901.643 million total cash assistance to 177,839 rice farmers before the year ends. This initiative is a result of DA's partnership with the Development Bank of the Philippines and Landbank of the Philippines. (With JTD)
