The House Committee on Agriculture and Food chaired by Quezon 1st District Representative Wilfrido Enverga approved a House joint resolution which authorizes the use of the rice subsidy as provided under the 2019 General Appropriations Act (GAA) for the purchase of palay from farmers.
The substitute resolution mandates concerned government agencies and Local Government Units (LGUs), in coordination with the National Food Authority (NFA) and the Department of Agriculture (DA), to directly purchase palay from local farmers and distribute rice subsidy in the form of actual rice instead of cash.
“The measure will provide the needed funds to help alleviate the plight of rice farmers.”
Enverga said that the measure will provide the needed funds to help alleviate the plight of rice farmers.
The legislator noted that despite the efforts made by the government to protect the local rice industry, large stocks of imported rice have depressed the buying price of local palay to the detriment of local rice farmers.
“Large stocks of imported rice have depressed the buying price of local palay to the detriment of local rice farmers.”
The joint resolution proposed that the total allocation of P33.9 billion for rice subsidies provided under the 2019 GAA, the largest of which is given to the beneficiaries of the DSWD under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), be utilized to buy palay directly from local farmers.
The 4Ps grants the beneficiaries rice subsidy in the form of financial assistance in the amount of P600 per month which is equivalent to 20 kilos of rice.
The joint resolution provides that the distribution of rice subsidy shall be in accordance with the procedure, guidelines, and distribution system to be determined by the concerned departments and agencies, taking into consideration actual levels of production and possible areas of priority, especially in identified rice-producing provinces.