Promises advocacy for legislation to set P20/kilo rice as permanent policy
The Speaker of the House, Martin Romualdez, has declared his support for laws that would make the administration's P20 per kilo rice program a permanent fixture. During a meeting with Agriculture Secretary Francisco "Kiko" Tiu Laurel Jr. and Undersecretary and Chief of Staff Alvin John Balagbag, Romualdez pledged to leverage Congress's legislative power to back the Department of Agriculture's (DA) priority reform bills.
Here's a lowdown of the proposed legislation and reforms:
- Amendments to the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL): The aim is to restore regulatory powers to the National Food Authority (NFA), enabling them to maintain price stability and safeguard domestic rice production.
- Livestock Development and Competitiveness Act: This legislation aims to boost the livestock sector's competitiveness, thereby enhancing overall food security and farmer support.
- Philippine Corn Industry Development Act: This proposed bill targets the corn industry, contributing to agricultural diversification and bolstering food security.
- Onion Research Center Act: This Act aims to set up a research center dedicated to improving the onion industry, benefiting farmers and consumers alike.
- Amendments to RA No. 7308 or the Seed Industry Development Act of 1992: The objective is to update seed industry regulations, ensuring access to better seeds and sustainable farming practices.
- Amendments to the Local Government Code to strengthen agricultural extension services: Empowering local governments can aid grassroots agricultural development.
Romualdez emphasized that these proposed measures are the backbone of lasting change, essential for overhauling the nation's food system and ensuring no Filipino goes hungry or is helpless in the face of price shocks. He stressed that legislation is the most potent tool to ensure the rice program's permanence.
Romualdez further stated, "We'll guarantee a P20 per kilo rice in the market for those in need—not just now but for future years. We'll construct a system where affordable rice is no seasonal miracle, but a daily reality. To achieve this, we must uplift our farmers. We can't ask them to feed the nation without feeding their hopes. These laws will provide them better seeds, tools, market access, and dignity."
The P20 per kilo rice program was first piloted in the Visayas in May and later rolled out in various Kadiwa ng Pangulo Centers in Luzon. Initially, it caters to vulnerable sectors such as senior citizens, solo parents, persons with disabilities, and members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). The DA intends to expand the program to minimum wage earners by July.
- The Speaker of the House, Martin Romualdez, has expressed his support for a series of proposed legislations, including the amendments to the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) and the Livestock Development and Competitiveness Act, to enhance food security and support local farmers, emphasizing that such measures are crucial for the permanent implementation of the P20 per kilo rice program.
- In a meeting with the Department of Agriculture (DA), Romualdez pledged to use Congress's legislative power to back the DA's priority reform bills, which also include the establishment of an Onion Research Center Act and amendments to RA No. 7308 or the Seed Industry Development Act of 1992, among others, to benefit farmers and consumers alike.
- Romualdez underscored that the passage of these proposed laws, particularly those focusing on agricultural development, is vital in preventing Filipinos from facing hunger or experiencing price shocks, promising to ensure that affordable rice becomes a daily reality for all, not just a seasonal miracle, by providing farmers with better resources and dignity.
