AGRI party-list Rep. Wilbert T Lee on Friday pushed for the passage of a proposal that would provide rice allowances to workers in the private sector.
Lee appealed to the Congress leadership to support his House Bill 1296, or an act promoting corporative farming and providing incentives for its effective implementation.
“Corporative farming allows us to implement a measure that benefits not only private sector employees but also our farmers,” Lee explained.
The bill defines corporative farming as a portmanteau of corporate and cooperative farming.
It proposes to establish partnerships between farming organizations and communities with domestic corporations. Under such an agreement, farming organizations would supply labor, expertise, and/or their landholdings, while private companies provide the necessary capital and guarantee the purchase of the harvest.
Under the bill, the corporations/partnerships that engage in corporative farming agreements shall be required to provide a minimum of 600 kilograms of rice/corn per employee per year or 50 kilograms per employee per month. Any excess produced would be sold to the National Food Administration (NFA) at prevailing market prices.
“The rice allowance will help employees cope with the rising cost of goods, while farmers are given a sure market and this guarantees that their crops will be bought at fair value,” Lee stressed.
The Bicol lawmaker noted a similar allowance for public employees that was announced by no less than President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
“Let’s not wait for our countrymen to say, ‘Sana all.’ Let’s take up the proposal that aims to create a partnership between the private sector and our farmers in order to institutionalize a rice allowance for their employees,” Lee said.
Companies that enter into corporative farming agreements shall be entitled to tax incentives covering all aspects of the operation related to corporative farming activities.
“This measure shows us that there is a solution to the rising cost of goods through collaboration among the public and private sectors and
our farmers. I hope that we can pass this bill soon so that we can help not just government employees, but all employees,” Lee said.