President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has drawn praise for his call for sustained efforts to ensure food security and his commitment to revitalizing the coconut industry, as highlighted in his fourth State of the Nation Address (SoNA) on Monday.
Albay Third District Representative Raymond Adrian Salceda thanked the president for urging legislators to amend the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act, also known as the Coco Levy Act.
"I earlier expressed my hope he would take it up and as it turned out, it was one of the topics he asked Congress to legislate on," Salceda said in a Tuesday statement.
"Following the President’s clear directive, I will file our version of the bill on the Coco Levy Act as soon as possible," added Salceda, a nephew of former Albay Second District congressman Joey Salceda. "The coconut sector is one of the largest sectors, by land area, in Philippine agriculture. It is also among our largest exports. Food security is absolutely essential."
The Bicol Region, particularly the provinces of Albay, Sorsogon, Catanduanes and Masbate, is a significant producer of coconut and copra in the country.
During his SoNA, Marcos outlined his administration's current programs aimed at enhancing agricultural production, alongside support infrastructure like more farm-to-market roads and industry modernization through machinery and new technologies.
Salceda also urged Congress to amend the Coco Levy Act to align it with current situations and the actual needs of coconut farmers, fostering the regeneration of the coconut industry.
"Hopefully, President Marcos will also order concerned agencies to expedite their action and initiatives on their proposals relative to the proper use of the Coconut Levy Funds, disbursement from which have remained very low at about 25 percent only every year," he added.
Among the 10 proposed measures Salceda submitted on the first day of bill filings was a bill to provide an additional P10 per kilo of palay when the National Food Authority buys grains from farmers, to be funded from excess tariff revenues.
This proposal seeks to amend Section 14 of Republic Act 11203, also known as the Rice Tariffication Law.
In addition to agricultural legislation, Salceda is advocating for a fair wage hike and has filed House Bill 55, which seeks to abolish regional wage boards and establish a uniform daily pay for workers in Metro Manila and the provinces.