We understand the plight of our rice farmers, particularly the marginal ones, who are experiencing the challenge of a liberalized rice trade.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) is extending P3-billion in Rice Farmer Financial Assistance (RFFA) to small farmers affected by the initial impact of the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL).
This was confirmed at a recent news briefing where Agriculture Secretary William Dar said the DA will extend P5,000 cash assistance 600,000 rice planters whose farm size ranges from half a hectare to two hectares.
Dar said the program is in partnership with the Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank) and the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP)
“We understand the plight of our rice farmers, particularly the marginal ones, who are experiencing the challenge of a liberalized rice trade,” Dar told reporters
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“The RFFA is one way to help them cope with the tough competition they are facing in the market today,” he added.
President Duterte issued in November a directive calling for the urgent implementation of the RFFA this year to cater to the stricken rice farmers.
The DA leads in the implementation of the RFFA in partnership with LandBank and the DBP that will each disburse P1.5 billion to 300,000 farmers nationwide.
“To ensure that we efficiently do it, we meticulously crafted a guideline in selecting the first 33 rice-producing provinces and qualified farmers as beneficiaries,” Dar said.
According to him, the DA conducted a comparative price analysis and considered the average marketable surplus and profit gains and losses in those provinces.
Under the program, farmers may receive the assistance through an LandBank-issued cash card, or over-the-counter withdrawal from both LandBank and DBP conduits and accredited payout outlets.
RFFA forms part of the immediate interventions set up to cushion rice farmers from the birth pains of the RTL or Republic Act 11203.
The law provides for financial assistance for rice farmers to be sourced from the tariff collection of the P10 billion Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund or RCEF.
The initial RFFA, however, comes from the 2019 excess revenues of the national government. Another P3 billion will be allocated next year from the excess collection under RCEF.
