By Vanne Elaine Terrazola  Senator Cynthia Villar has threatened to file charges against officials of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and its attached agencies should they fail to implement the provisions of the new rice tariffication law, particularly on the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF). Senator Cynthia Villar
(PRIB Photo by Albert Calvelo/ Senate of the Philippines) "Idedemanda ko kayo 'pag 'di niyo sinunod ang batas. Sabihin niyo kay Piñol, 'pag di niyo sinunod nag batas, idedemand ako kayong lahat (I will sue all of you if you do not follow the law. Tell Piñol I will sue all of them)," Villar warned as she addressed graduates of the Villar SIPAG's training on farm mechanization and inbred seed production in Bacoor, Cavite, Friday. "Pag 'di niyo sinunod ang (If you do not abide by the) provisions ng (of the) Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund, idedemanda ko kayo (I will sue you)," she reiterated. The senator, as chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, sponsored the measure liberalizing rice importation in the country before it was signed into law as Republic Act No. 11203 last February. She had pushed for the creation of the RCEF to help local rice farmers cope with the unimpeded importation of rice. Early this month, concerned government agencies, including the DA, approved the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the RA 11203. The IRR, among its salient points, reportedly contained details about the creation of the RCEF and how the P10-billion annual fund will be transferred to the implementing agencies. Under the law, 50 percent of the RCEF, or P5 billion, shall be given to the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) to provide farmers with rice farm machineries and equipment. Thirty percent, or P3 billion, shall be allotted to Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) to develop and promote the production of inbred rice seed and encourage rice farmers to engage in seed production and trade. Meanwhile, P1 billion shall be allotted for the credit facility for rice farmers and another P1 billion for technical skills training. The law also stipulates that tariff collections in excess of P10 billion shall be used to provide financial assistance to rice farmers adversely affected by the new rice trade regime. Villar said she has started "looking for a lawyer" to file the possible charges if she found the agencies remiss in their duties. In an earlier press briefing, Piñol allayed doubts on the availability of funds for the RCEF, noting that the P10-billion fund was already included in the DA's budget under the 2019 General Appropriations Act. He said the government has also agreed to immediately release the RCEF to the implementing agencies. "There is simply no way the government will forfeit its commitment," Piñol had assured.