Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero said the newly approved Agricultural Tariffication Act will provide greater support for Filipino farmers and further boost the country’s rice production.

On Monday, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Republic Act (RA) 12078, or the Agricultural Tariffication Act, extending the implementation of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) until 2031 and increasing its annual funding from P10 billion to P30 billion.

Escudero said that through the new law, farmers are assured of the provision of farm machinery and equipment, free distribution of high-quality inbred certified seeds, and other interventions.

Under the law, the country’s buffer stock of rice will be maintained, equivalent to 30 days at any given time, to sustain disaster relief programs of the government during natural or man-made calamities and to address food security emergencies related to rice.

Escudero noted that the inspection and monitoring of warehouses and agricultural facilities by the Department of Agriculture, through the Bureau of Plant Industry, will be strengthened by the new law.

He also mentioned that the new law seeks to ensure a stable supply of rice in the market and maintain quality control of rice sold to consumers.

“We want to avoid a situation where the price of rice shoots up unnecessarily due to smuggling or hoarding. This has long been a problem in the country that should be addressed immediately,” he noted.

The new law empowers the Secretary of Agriculture to better respond to a declaration of rice food shortage or an extraordinary increase in rice prices.

During periods when there is an extraordinary increase in rice prices, the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to designate importing entities, except for the National Food Authority, to import rice to augment the supply and stabilize prices.

Senate Bill 2779 was sponsored by Senator Cynthia Villar as chair of the Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform. It is a consolidation of the bills filed by Senators Imee Marcos, Robin Padilla, and Villar.