Government urged to release cash aid for farmers amid agricultural crises

August 5, 2024 , 10:32 PM

By Rodolfo Dacleson II

(August 5, 2024) – A lawmaker on Monday demanded for the immediate release of cash assistance for farmers amid multiple crises affecting the agricultural sector.

Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas made the call during the presentation of the Development Budget Coordination Committee, citing the “devastating” impacts of rice liberalization, El Niño, and the looming La Niña and the government’s “destructive policies.”

She noted the unreleased cash assistance worth nearly P20 billion from the excess rice tariff revenue last year, underscoring the mandates of the Rice Liberalization Law and Cash Assistance for Filipino Farmers Act.

“The P19.9 billion is not just aid but compensation for farmers who have suffered immensely due to liberalization policies, rising production costs, and climate disasters,” said Brosas in a media release. “Hindi makatarungan na pinagdadamot ito ngayon ng gobyerno.”

Last February, the Bureau of Customs reported that rice tariff collections reached a record P30 billion in 2023.

In the same month, Pres. Bongbong Marcos Jr. vowed to provide a “permanent” solution to the plight of farmers in the country.

The Philippine Statistics Authority found that farmers and fisherfolk had the highest poverty incidence in 2021.

The agricultural sector has taken major blows due to environmental factors. Crop production declined by almost 2% in the first quarter of the year due to El Niño, according to the Department of Agriculture. It left agricultural damage worth P9.5 billion nationwide.

Recently, Super Typhoon Carina and the southwest monsoon dealt more than P200 million of damage to the agricultural sector.

ALSO READ: Farmers, agricultural sector ready for La Niña, assures DA

Brosas also slammed the government’s importation-leaning rice policies, particularly Executive Order No. 62. It was signed by Pres. Bongbong Marcos Jr. last June to reduce the tariff on imported rice from 35% to 15%, saying it would lead to lower rice prices.

ALSO READ: Reduced rice tariff to cut rice prices by P6 to P7, claims DA

“Kitang kita naman na ang mismong Rice Liberalization Law nga hindi napababa ang inflation, mas lumalala pa nga dahil sa sobra-sobrang importasyon,” added Brosas, the assistant minority leader.

She stressed that Marcos needs to release the cash assistance for farmers immediately.

“We demand the release of the farmers’ cash assistance without delay,” said Brosas.

(PM)

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