Imee’s bill boosts food security
AN agricultural Southeast Asian country, where the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) is located, the Philippines is one of the world’s rice producers.
IRRI is a research and training organization that develops new varieties and crop management techniques that help farmers improve the yield and quality of rice.
One of the reasons why Filipinos import rice is the inability of the country’s farmers to increase production due to mainly to the high cost of fertilizers and pesticides.
This prompted presidential sister, Senator Imee R. Marcos, to file Senate Bill (SB) No. 1720, which seeks to exempt fertilizers and pesticides from the payment of taxes.
An estimated 11 million rice farmers are expected to benefit if the bill, otherwise known as the Fertilizer and Pesticide Tax and Immunity Act, is enacted into law.
In her bill, Senator Marcos said farmers are forced to apply minimal amounts of fertilizers due to the high cost of the commodity, resulting in low production.
We believe that the lady senator’s proposed legislation will address the problem of low rice production in line with the government’s objective to attain food security.
And of course, we are made to believe that, like previous administrations, the focus of the Marcos’ presidency is food security.
