Tuesday, February 7, 2023
manilastandard.net
ADVERTISEMENT
  • About
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • National
    • World News
    • Pinoy Abroad
    • Features
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Soundbytes
  • LGUs
    • NCR
    • Luzon
    • Visayas
    • Mindanao
  • Business
    • Corporate
    • Economy & Trade
    • Stocks
    • Money
    • Agri & Mining
    • Power & Tech
    • IT & Telecom
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
    • Fightsports
    • Active
    • Sports Plus
    • One Championship
    • Columns
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Movies
    • Celebrity Profiles
    • Music & Concerts
    • Digital Media
    • Columns
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Culture & Media
    • Fashion
    • Health and Home
    • Leisure
    • Shopping
    • Columns
  • Others
    • Pets
    • Pop.Life
      • Newsmakers
      • Hangouts
      • A-Pop
      • Post Its
      • Performances
      • Malls & Bazaars
      • Hobbies & Collections
    • Technology
      • Gadgets
      • Computers
      • Business
      • Tech Plus
    • MS ON THE ROAD
      • Sedan
      • SUV
      • Truck
      • Bike
      • Accessories
      • Motoring Plus
      • Commuter’s Corner
    • Home & Design
      • Residential
      • Commercial
      • Construction
      • Interior
    • Spotlight
    • Gallery
      • Photos
      • Videos
    • Events
      • Seminars
      • Exhibits
      • Community
    • Biyahero
      • Travel Features
      • Travel Reels
      • Travel Logs
  • Advertise with Us
No Result
View All Result
  • About
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • National
    • World News
    • Pinoy Abroad
    • Features
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Soundbytes
  • LGUs
    • NCR
    • Luzon
    • Visayas
    • Mindanao
  • Business
    • Corporate
    • Economy & Trade
    • Stocks
    • Money
    • Agri & Mining
    • Power & Tech
    • IT & Telecom
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
    • Fightsports
    • Active
    • Sports Plus
    • One Championship
    • Columns
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Movies
    • Celebrity Profiles
    • Music & Concerts
    • Digital Media
    • Columns
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Culture & Media
    • Fashion
    • Health and Home
    • Leisure
    • Shopping
    • Columns
  • Others
    • Pets
    • Pop.Life
      • Newsmakers
      • Hangouts
      • A-Pop
      • Post Its
      • Performances
      • Malls & Bazaars
      • Hobbies & Collections
    • Technology
      • Gadgets
      • Computers
      • Business
      • Tech Plus
    • MS ON THE ROAD
      • Sedan
      • SUV
      • Truck
      • Bike
      • Accessories
      • Motoring Plus
      • Commuter’s Corner
    • Home & Design
      • Residential
      • Commercial
      • Construction
      • Interior
    • Spotlight
    • Gallery
      • Photos
      • Videos
    • Events
      • Seminars
      • Exhibits
      • Community
    • Biyahero
      • Travel Features
      • Travel Reels
      • Travel Logs
  • Advertise with Us
No Result
View All Result
manilastandard.net
No Result
View All Result
Home Opinion Columns About Town by Ernesto M. Hilario

Rice farmers can benefit from this support system

Ernesto M. HilariobyErnesto M. Hilario
June 11, 2021, 12:10 am
in About Town by Ernesto M. Hilario
Reading Time: 4 mins read
A A
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Email

"This program can serve as a model for other LGUs."

 

We wrote recently about the Palay Price Support Program of the Nueva Ecija Provincial Government. We pointed out that it is a big step forward in helping small rice farmers now reeling from loss of income and difficult living conditions because of the Rice Tariffication Law that has flooded the country with cheap imported rice since 2019.

In fact, we believe this program can serve as a model for local government units in other rice-producing areas in helping farmers recover from the adverse effects of the law.

That's what no less Agriculture Secretary William Dar is saying: “I encourage all Local Government Units to adopt Nueva Ecija’s localized palay procurement program. I like that model and I want to see it in the top ten rice-producing provinces.”    

While the deregulation of the rice industry has benefited consumers who now have access to affordable rice, it has at the same time driven rice farmers throughout the country deeper into poverty because they cannot cope with the cheap prices of the staple from countries like Thailand and Vietnam.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Rice Tariffication Law removed the regulatory functions of the National Food Authority (NFA) over rice importation and streamlined the process of acquiring import permits.

As a result, big corporations with unlimited capital have managed to monopolize the industry and import huge amounts of cheap imported rice. In 2019, the Philippines imported over 3 million metric tons of rice, giving us the dubious distinction of being the world’s biggest rice importer that year.

The PPSP, first implemented in 2019  by the Nueva Ecija Provincial Government headed by Governor Aurelio Umali, seeks to augment the income of marginalized farmers affected by weak palay prices by giving them remunerative assistance.

The Nueva Ecija Provincial Food Council (NEPFC) initiated the program due to the sharp decline in palay prices from the liberalized  policy on rice importation.

With reduced palay prices, local farmers, already considered among the poorest of the poor, stand to suffer from the significant drop in farm income that threatens their economic well-being.

Under the program, the provincial government directly purchases the harvest of beneficiary farmers for a premium price  higher than the prevailing farmgate price at the time of procurement. Palay procured under the program will eventually be processed and traded by the provincial government in  its dry form or as Malasakit Rice which is then sold at an affordable price to consumers  and institutional buyers.

Apart from the Agriculture Secretary, city and town mayors in the province have likewise expressed unequivocal support for the program.

For Mayor Jose R. Dizon of Guimba: “Small farmers in our town only cultivate 1 to 3 hectares of farmland and even borrow money for capital. 

What's sad is that traders often offer an unreasonably low price for their palay. Instead of earning just enough profit to meet their basic needs, our farmers even suffer losses and go deep into debt. The program is truly a welcome development for our farmers, and we thank Governor Umali.”

For his part, Mayor Jobby P. Emata of Gabaldon town said: “Nueva Ecija is fortunate to be at the forefront of this crucial intervention of the provincial government in the agriculture sector. The Provincial Food Council is purchasing the produce of our farmers and thus propping up the farmgate price of palay.”

Mayor Mario O. Salvador of San Jose City: “We in San Jose City are grateful to the Provincial Government for this program that stabilizes the farmgate prices of palay. As a local Chief Executive myself, I salute the good Governor for this program that responds to the cry for help of Novo Ecijano farmers.”

Mayor Vina E. Lopez of San Isidro: “Although Nueva Ecija is the top rice-producing province in the country, our farmers are not spared from unreasonable farmgate prices of palay. Our local farmers make great sacrifices in pursuing their livelihood but traders take advantage of them. Those of us in local government units should complement each other’s efforts and provide better and more responsive services to our constituents."      

In the end, it's the small farmers who really stand to benefit from the PPSP. Jose Galang of Santor, Bongabon, speaking in Tagalog,  believes that "it's an excellent program" since traders now offer them low prices. "If we have very meager harvest, why should we sell to them if we cannot recover the costs? Right from the start, we realized that Governor Umali was really concerned for our well-being. Thank you, Governor."

Elmer Sayton of Antipolo, Bongabon agrees with his fellow farmer: "We have a compassionate Governor who has offered to buy our palay at a better price. Some traders have offered us P17.50 per kilo. We cannot afford to lose just one peso for every kilo. With the Governor's program, we expect a better price for our palay harvest. I thank you in advance. You have renewed our faith in rice farming because of your program."

ernhil@yahoo.com

Tags: Agriculture Secretary William DarErnesto Hilarioimported riceNueva EcijaPalay Price Support Programrice farmersRice Tariffication Law
ADVERTISEMENT
Ernesto M. Hilario

Ernesto M. Hilario

Related Posts

No significant decline in corruption levels

byErnesto M. Hilario
February 3, 2023, 12:15 am
0
8
Denying Villafuerte justice

"More than 8,000 American Peace Corps volunteers have served in the Philippines since 1961, working side-by-side with Filipinos to promote...

Read more

Garbage crisis in the city

byErnesto M. Hilario
February 1, 2023, 12:05 am
0
8
Nullity of marriage: a defense in bigamy cases

"The UNICEF stressed the need for the country to ‘harness the potential’ of early childhood education" Metro Manila spews out...

Read more

No to nefarious NCAP

byErnesto M. Hilario
January 27, 2023, 12:00 am
0
8
Nullity of marriage: a defense in bigamy cases

"The lesson here is this: NCAP, by ‘convicting’ the offender on the basis of video evidence and demanding payment of...

Read more

Davos dividend

byErnesto M. Hilario
January 25, 2023, 12:05 am
0
8

"Those who attended the five-day World Economic Forum in Davos are saying the Philippine participation will pay huge dividends for...

Read more

Joint development in SCS dead in the water?

byErnesto M. Hilario
January 18, 2023, 12:05 am
0
8
Denying Villafuerte justice

"What is clear at this point is that joint exploration of oil and gas with China in the South China...

Read more

An ideal foreign policy, according to UP

byErnesto M. Hilario
January 13, 2023, 12:05 am
0
8

"Our foreign policy operates amid ongoing great power rivalry in the region, territorial and maritime disputes with neighboring countries, especially...

Read more

Print Edition

View More

Recent Posts

  • Earthquake kills more than 4,300 in Turkey, Syria
  • Japanese ‘Luffy’ criminal ringleaders deported from Philippines
  • Metro Pacific buying 34.7% of coconut exporter for P5.32 billion
  • North Korea pledges ‘expanded, intensified’ military drills
  • January inflation climbed to 14-year high of 8.7%
  • Sneakers for Makati : AB4.0
  • SRP for onions set at P125/k
  • Massive 7.8 quake kills 2,300 in Turkey, Syria

Advertisement

Latest News

Sneakers for Makati : AB4.0

byManila Standard
February 7, 2023, 1:50 am
0
288
Sneakers for Makati : AB4.0

Read more

SRP for onions set at P125/k

byMaricel Cruzand1 others
February 7, 2023, 1:40 am
0
8
Can’t afford onions per kilo? DA says buy per piece

PBBM okays move to rein in inflation, limits middlemen in trading The Department of Agriculture has set the suggested retail...

Read more

Massive 7.8 quake kills 2,300 in Turkey, Syria

byAFP
February 7, 2023, 1:30 am
0
8
Massive 7.8 quake kills 2,300 in Turkey, Syria

The most powerful earthquake to strike Turkey and Syria in nearly a century killed over 2,300 people on Monday, sparked...

Read more

Fishermen accuse Chinese boats of destroying reefs off Zambales

byManila Standard
February 7, 2023, 1:20 am
0
8
Vax wastage, infection surge feared in Odette-hit areas

Chinese vessels have destroyed artificial reefs in the waters of Masinloc, Zambales meant to help local fishermen earn a living—ramming...

Read more

PH, US to hold military drills in April, AFP says

byVince Lopezand1 others
February 7, 2023, 1:10 am
0
8
Vax wastage, infection surge feared in Odette-hit areas

This year’s “Balikatan” military exercises between American and Filipino troops will take place in April, Armed Forces of the Philippines...

Read more

Advertisement

ADVERTISEMENT
Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube

ABOUT US

Manila Standard

Manila Standard website (manilastandard.net), launched in August 2002, extends the newspaper’s reach beyond its traditional readers and makes its brand of Philippine news and opinion available to a much wider and geographically diverse readership here and overseas.

Digital Edition

In tone and content, the online edition mirrors the editorial thrust of the newspaper. While hewing to the traditional precepts of fairness and objectivity, MS believes the news of the day need not be staid, overly long or dry. Stories are succinct, readable and written in a lively style that has become a hallmark of the newspaper.

Download – Today’s Paper

Search

No Result
View All Result

6th Floor Universal Re Bldg., 106 Paseo De Roxas cor. Perea Street, Legaspi Village, 1226 Makati City Philippines

Trunklines: 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558

© 2021 Manila Standard - Designed and Developed by Neitiviti Studios.

No Result
View All Result
  • About
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • National
    • World News
    • Pinoy Abroad
    • Features
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Soundbytes
  • LGUs
    • NCR
    • Luzon
    • Visayas
    • Mindanao
  • Business
    • Corporate
    • Economy & Trade
    • Stocks
    • Money
    • Agri & Mining
    • Power & Tech
    • IT & Telecom
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
    • Fightsports
    • Active
    • Sports Plus
    • One Championship
    • Columns
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Movies
    • Celebrity Profiles
    • Music & Concerts
    • Digital Media
    • Columns
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Culture & Media
    • Fashion
    • Health and Home
    • Leisure
    • Shopping
    • Columns
  • Pop.Life
    • Newsmakers
    • Hangouts
    • A-Pop
    • Post Its
    • Performances
    • Malls & Bazaars
    • Hobbies & Collections
  • Technology
    • Gadgets
    • Computers
    • Business
    • Tech Plus
  • MS ON THE ROAD
    • Sedan
    • SUV
    • Truck
    • Bike
    • Accessories
    • Motoring Plus
    • Commuter’s Corner
  • Home & Design
    • Residential
    • Commercial
    • Construction
    • Interior
  • Spotlight
  • Gallery
    • Photos
    • Videos
  • Events
    • Seminars
    • Exhibits
    • Community
  • Biyahero
    • Travel Features
    • Travel Reels
    • Travel Logs
  • Pets
  • Advertise with Us

© 2021 Manila Standard - Designed and Developed by Neitiviti Studios.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Install Manila Standard Web App

Install App