President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s order for the Department of Agriculture to use excess collections of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund, or rcef, was the fruit of farmers' hard work.

This is how Senator Francis Tolentino views the President's continuing financial aid and other support to farmers.

Tolentino, over a radio interview said the aid will provide for farmers' drying, farm mechanization, and needed equipment for rice planting to help them sustain their productivity.

Earlier, President Marcos had approved the release of P12.7 billion to fund a P5,000 cash aid for each of the 2.3 million small rice farmers under the Rice Farmers Financial Assistance of the government.

"That's the 2nd downpayment of the aid. There's more coming. We collected P22.7 billion in rice tariffs last year. P10 billion has already been earmarked for projects under the RCEF. Instead of remitting the excess from P12.7 billion in the National Treasury, the President has ordered to give the excess to farmers," Tolentino said.

"From January to August this year, the Bureau of Collections has already collected P16.8 billion. This means the excess collection of P6.8 billion during the eight-month period will be distributed to farmers, too," the lawmaker added.