NFA still won’t be allowed to import rice under new law

THE NATIONAL Food Authority (NFA) would still be barred from importing rice under proposed changes to the Rice Tariffication Law, the Agriculture department told congressmen on Tuesday.

During a budget hearing at the House of Representatives, Agriculture Undersecretary Mercedita A. Sombilla said Congress should revise allocations under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund.

“We will be trying to make some revisions to the Rice Tariffication law in terms of the allocations of the different components,” she said, noting that the distribution of seeds and machinery has increased farmers’ income and gave them yield advantage.

Under the law, 30% of the fund is earmarked for seeds, 50% for mechanization, 10% for training and 10% for credit. Out of the Department of Agriculture (DA)’s proposed 2024 budget, P10 billion will be allotted to the rice fund.

The agency asked for a P167.5-billion budget for next year, higher than the P108.5-billion proposal from the Budget department.

The budget includes P9.55 billion for fertilizer assistance, while P9.8 billion will be spent on hybrid seeds under the National Rice program.

Another P2.22 billion will be allotted to the Integrated National Swine Production Initiatives for Recovery and Expansion program.

Ms. Sombilla said P2.49 billion was allocated to enhance production of yellow corn, while P492.7 million will be spent for President Ferdinand R. Marcos’ Kadiwa program. The Agricultural Credit program will be given P2.75 billion.

Under the proposed budget, P374 million will be earmarked for the construction of cold storage facilities for onions, while P149.09 million will be used to expand the country’s durian production.

“This national expenditure program is only around 42% of the department’s total proposal as submitted to the Department of Budget and Management,” she said.

Agriculture Senior Undersecretary Domingo F. Panganiban said Mr. Marcos, who is Agriculture secretary, had not joined the agency’s meetings in the past six months. He meets with the President meet twice a week so the chief executive could relay his concerns.

“The issues and concerns that the President tells me are concerns that I’m telling the undersecretaries, assistant secretaries and directors,” he said. Lawmakers have long called on Mr. Marcos to appoint a full-time Agriculture secretary. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz