The Economic Development Group, chaired by Secretary Frederick D. Go, supports extending the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund until 2030 and increasing its annual budget to P15 billion from the current P10 billion.
Now pending in Congress, the proposed extension and revision of the Rice Tariffication Law aims to enhance agricultural productivity, improve the livelihoods of rice farmers, ensure food security, and boost the global competitiveness of the rice industry.
Tariffs collected from rice importation since 2019 have been earmarked for farm mechanization and input and financial support to rice farmers to enhance their competitiveness, increase farm production and raise farmers income. An annual rice fund of P10 billion from tariff collection is set aside, with half going to the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization, to enhance rice farmers’ competitiveness. The excess funds are mostly given to farmers as financial assistance.
Over P29 billion in tariff was collected by the Bureau of Customs from rice imports in 2023.
The EDG expressed its support for the adoption of an input voucher system that would give farmers the flexibility to spend on production inputs specific to their needs. The input vouchers will likewise address concerns on delays in RCEF program interventions, it added.
EDG also supports the allocation of RCEF to crop diversification programs that would help ensure a more stable income source for farmers, especially those that could not attain optimal productivity because of location, topography and farm size, among others.
The group said it endorses farmers’ request for continued support and allocation for crop insurance to reduce risk. This will boost their income and reduce vulnerabilities against crop losses due to natural disasters, pest infestation and plant disease.
To ensure effective decision-making and evaluate RCEF’s impact, the EDG proposes resources for research and development (R&D) and establishing a comprehensive database in collaboration with relevant agencies.
Additionally, the EDG agrees to allow adjustments in RCEF program allocations based on performance assessments, enabling the government to respond to emerging needs in the rice sector. Ultimately, the EDG is committed to modernizing agriculture and collaborating with Congress to advance the proposed RCEF extension.
