The Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc. (PCAFI) said Monday it fully supports the extension of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) being implemented by the Department of Agriculture (DA) to strengthen the rice sector.
“In general, any additional budget to the DA is welcome. The issue lies in the implementation. COA [Commission on Audit] reports highlight the inefficiencies in how some DA agencies utilize their funds. Now that we have a larger amount, we need more decisive action,” said PCAFI president and chairman Danilo Fausto said in a briefing Monday.
PCAFI said the extension of the RCEF should prioritize faster fund disbursement for timely support for farmers.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday signed Republic Act 12078, or the Agricultural Tariffication Act, to strengthen the rice industry and ensure a more stable food supply in the country.
Marcos highlighted the government’s goal to ensure farmers have “steady access to resources they need to succeed in rice farming.”
The law included amendments that will extend the RCEF’s implementation until 2031 while increasing its annual funding from P10 billion to P30 billion.
The expanded annual fund will support a range of initiatives to modernize and enhance rice farming across the country. that include P15 billion to be allocated for extension and training programs, financial assistance, soil improvement, solar-powered irrigation systems, and water-impounding projects.
Meanwhile, P9 billion will be dedicated to farm mechanization efforts and P6 billion will be used to distribute high-quality rice seeds to boost productivity and ensure the availability of essential resources for farmers.
The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) will also play a vital role by distributing 5.5 million bags of rice seeds annually starting in 2027. This is expected to cover 2.54 million hectares of farmland, potentially increasing rice yield by 21 percent in both dry and wet seasons.
The amendment introduces measures to combat agricultural smuggling, which is now recognized as a form of economic sabotage.
