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The soon-to-be enacted measure amending Republic Act (RA) No. 8178 or the Agricultural Tariffication Act is seen to help small farmers recover from the devastating effects of typhoon "Kristine". 

Thus, said Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan, who on Monday, Nov. 4 highlighted the measure's key provision on increasing the annual allocation of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) from P10 billion to P30 billion. 

Yamsuan said that the legislation also extends the life of the RCEF up to the year 2031 under RA No.8178. 

The House and Senate--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 this, the amendments bill 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. 

“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," added the former Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) assistant secretary. 

Yamsuan is among the principal authors of the House of Representatives' version of the measure, which also aims to protect consumers by giving 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 of Nov. 2, the damage to the agriculture sector wrought by Kristine had already reached P5.75 billion and 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. 
 
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 No.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.