REPRESENTATIVE Brian Raymund Yamsuan is optimistic that a soon-to-be enacted measure increasing the size of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) from P10 billion to P30 billion per year would help small farmers recover mounting losses caused by severe tropical storm “Kristine.”

At the same time, Yamsuan urged fellow lawmakers to act swiftly on a bill he co-authored that aims to establish a Pantawid Pambangka Program, which institutionalizes the grant of a P1,000 monthly fuel subsidy to municipal fisherfolk, including those reeling from the devastating effects of ‘Kristine’s’ onslaught.

Yamsuan said the measure that aims to hike the annual RCEF share to P30 billion up to the year 2031 has already been ratified by both chambers of the Congress and is set to be signed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. into law soon.

The ratified measure stands to directly benefit 2.4 million small farmers with a provision authorizing the distribution of financial aid to those tilling two hectares and below, Yamsuan said.

On top of providing aid to farmers, the measure also increases the allocation for the provision of farm machineries and equipment, quality inbred rice seeds, rice credit assistance, training and extension, solar powered irrigation projects, and composting facilities for biodegradable wastes.

“Recovery from the effects of tropical storm ‘Kristine’ will not be overnight. This is a continuing process that requires sustained funding and assistance to our farmers and fisherfolk,” said Yamsuan, who represents the Bicol Saro Partylist in Congress.

“We are hopeful that the President would sign the ratified bill soon so that the RCEF could become a more potent tool to help small farmers, especially those in Bicol which was the worst hit by ‘Kristine,’ Umaasa tayo na kapag naisabatas na ang bill na may layuning itriple ang pondo ng RCEF sa P30 billion, magiging epektibong instrumento ito para matulungang makabangon ang ating mga magsasaka mula sa hagupit ng bagyong ‘Kristine,” Yamsuan added.

The ratified measure, of which Yamsuan is among the principal authors in the House of Representatives, also aims to protect consumers as it gives the Department of Agriculture (DA) the authority to sell rice reserves of the National Food Authority (NFA) to government outlets and agencies in times of shortages and high rice prices.

As chairperson of the House Committee on Aquaculture and Fisheries Resources, Yamsuan also prodded Congress to act fast in passing the proposed Pantawid Pambangka Program outlined under House Bill (HB) 1803 to provide direct aid to small fisherfolk through the grant of fuel vouchers equivalent to at least P1,000 per month.

HB 1803, which benefits fisherfolk using motorized fishing vessels of three gross tons or less, provides for a yearly review of the monthly subsidy to determine if the amount is still sufficient when taking into account the effects of inflation.

Beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pambangka Program shall also be automatically enrolled and covered under the National Health Insurance Program of Philhealth.

The Social Security System (SSS) shall also provide micro-insurance mechanisms for the beneficiaries under the bill.

As of November 2, the damage to the agriculture sector wrought by ‘Kristine’ has already reached P5.75 billion and has displaced 131,661 farmers and fisherfolk, according to the DA.

Among crops, rice incurred the biggest losses totaling P4.25 billion so far.

Losses to the fisheries sector were estimated at P446.22 million.

The DA Regional Office in Bicol initially placed losses to the agriculture sector at more than P2.1 billion in the region. Camarines Sur was the hardest hit, suffering an estimated P1.03 billion in losses, followed by Albay with P403 million as of the latest tally.

The ratified bill extending the life of RCEF reconciled the provisions under House Bill (HB) 10381 and Senate Bill 2779.

It amends Republic Act (RA) 11203 or the Rice Tariffication Act of 2019, which allowed private traders to import rice. Under this law, at least P10 billion of the tariffs collected from rice imports should go to the RCEF.

Amendments under the ratified bill increases this amount to P30 billion, of which the deficiency would be supplemented by allocations from the national budget.

It also gives the DA Secretary the authority to designate importing entities during times of “extraordinarily” high prices.

The importing entity is required to ship rice at least cost following the conclusion of government-to-government supply agreements.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Ryan Ponce Pacpaco