To enhance farm productivity and the agricultural sector, the Department of Agriculture (DA) is considering extending and enhancing the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF).

Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. told reporters that they are finalizing proposals to refine the RCEF under by the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL).

Tiu Laurel said the proposed changes aim to facilitate the modernization and enhancement of farm mechanization, fostering competitiveness among rice farmers.

The RTL was enacted to promote liberalization in the rice market by implementing import tariffs and allocating an annual budget through the RCEF.

Currently, the RCEF is allocated P10 billion per year for the next six years to support Filipino farmers.

This budget is distributed to small-scale rice farmers as financial assistance, which will continue to be available in the coming years.

“Definitely I think [the RTL] should be extended,” he said. “But of course, we need to make small adjustments so we can adapt to the times.”

Last year, a total of P29 billion in tariffs was collected. Tiu Laurel believes that the fund for farm inputs should be increased to bump rice recovery for every kilogram of palay by 15 percent.

“Only P10 billion goes to the RCEF… We should exceed this [budget] and invest more in harvest and mechanization,” the agri chief emphasized.

He added that the additional or extra funding can be used for fertilizer to boost farm production. Better domestic yields could solve the high import volumes, according to the DA secretary.

Nueva Ecija Representative Rosanna Vergara filed a bill to stretch out RCEF by six years. Subsequently, Senator Cynthia Villar also supports this extension.

Meanwhile, the US-DA decreased their Philippine rice imports from 4.1 million to 3.9 million metric tons. This was due to the forecasted higher rice output in the first quarter, as reported by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

El Niño affecting the country also brought an impression on the US agriculture sector but is expecting the effects of the incoming La Niña to resolve field irrigation.

“Irrigation and post-harvest are equally important… As of now there is about 12 to 15 percent of rice produce wasted because they lack the post-harvest facilities. Because of this they’re usually laid out on the road which are drove by passing cars, ultimately wasting production,” Tiu Laurel explained.

“Less wastage, more income to farmers,” he added.