LOCAL government units (LGU) should be the ones buying farm machinery and agricultural implements for Filipino farmers through the P5-billion in benefits from the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL), as Partido Reporma presidential candidate Panfilo “Ping” Lacson vowed it would happen under his administration once he prevails in the May 9 national elections.

Talking to farmers in Camarines Norte on Wednesday, in his latest sortie through Quezon Province and the Bicol Region, Lacson said half of the P10-billion allocated to the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) under the RTL enacted in 2019 should be set aside for agricultural machinery.

“Ang problema ang bumibili national [government]. Mahal na ‘yung pagkabili defective pa ‘yung binibili. Siguro ‘yon ‘yung mga sabihin nating mga factory defect para nakaka-discount,” the longtime public servant told the farmers in a forum in Daet, Camarines Norte.

“Kung ibibigay natin ‘yan sa local government unit ‘yung pag-procure, hindi sila magloloko kasi katabi niyo lang ‘yung mayor, katabi niyo lang ‘yung governor, e ‘di mahihiya silang humarap sa inyo na ang biniling equipment ay sira kaagad. Mapipilitan silang i-repair,” the three-term senator added.

Lacson said the machines the Department of Agriculture had bought in previous years with the RCEF had already broken down without being used, but an investigation into it has turned up empty.

“We’re urging the DA to investigate and find out who were responsible for the procurement of defective agricultural machinery. That P5-billion comes from the RTL, from rice tariffication alone,” the former national police chief said.

The Partido Reporma chairman and standard-bearer noted that P13-billion more is allocated for farm equipment under the national budget or the General Appropriations Act (GAA), and questioned why farmers like those in Camarines Norte were not receiving them, nearly three years after the RTL was enacted into law.

“Mayroon pang additional na P13-billion na nasa national budget, nasa GAA. Nandoon ‘yon, P13-billion agricultural machineries; meaning, pareho rin ng line ang item. Bakit hindi kayo nakakatanggap? Bakit P5,000 lang natanggap ninyo e katakut-takot, bilyon-bilyon ‘yung mayroong pera doon?” he asked.

The P5,000 Lacson mentioned is the mandated assistance to farmers per hectare they plant under the RTL, which is up for review after being enacted in 2019.

The RTL created the RCEF, which allocates P10-billion annually for six years for support programs that aim to make Filipino rice farmers more competitive. The fund is sourced from tariffs collected from rice imports, as the government lifted import quotas with an aim of controlling soaring rice prices.

Apart from earmarking 50 percent of the fund for machinery, 30 percent of the RCEF is slated for rice seed development, propagation, and promotion; 10 percent for expanded rice credit assistance; and another 10 percent to rice extension services.

However, the law has had an opposite effect, dropping palay (unhusked rice) prices down to P7 per kilo from P19 per kilo the year before, according to official Philippine Statistics Agency data, which had a devastating effect on farmers amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

While Lacson said the RTL still had its benefits, he and running mate Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III vowed to refine its execution, and to review import quotas for rice as well as it simply made Filipino farmers suffer

“Tapos ‘yung sa importasyon… Ang ating laging sagot kapag kinapos mag-i-import e ‘di lalo mong pinatay sa halip na tulungan, mag-i-import na lang. Mali ‘yung ganoong polisiya,” the presidential bet added.