City of San Fernando, Pampanga – The Department of Agriculture (DA) through the Regional Field Office 3 conducted the ceremonial launching of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund – Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RCEF-RFFA 2) on May 24, 2022, at the Kingsborough International Convention Center. Agriculture Secretary William Dar together with Vice Governor Lilia Paule Pineda, and other officials from the Department of Agriculture and Local Government Unit, led the distribution of the various assistance.
Secretary Dar commended the efforts and contributions of the DA Central Luzon spearheaded by Regional Executive Director Crispulo Batista Jr.”Alam niyo ang Region 3 ay outstanding among regions, talagang ang lakas ng Region 3 ay ang mga partnerships sa mga local government units at saka magsasaka,” Chief Dar stated. Republic Act No. 11598 also known as Cash Assistance for Filipino Farmers Act ensures the funding of the RCEF – RFFA through the use of the excess rice tariff collected every year. In partnership with the Development Bank of the Philippines as one of its partner government financial institutions and Universal Storefront Services Corporation as the Financial Technology Partner, a total of 2,000 RSBSA-registered rice farmers received and benefitted from the RFFA. Also present during the event were Undersecretary for Operations Engr. Ariel Cayanan, Assistant Secretary for Strategic Communications Noel Reyes, Assistant Secretary for Operations Engr. Arnel De Mesa, SVP Ricardo Josef Bandal II, PhilMech Director Dionisio “Boyet” Alvindia, and BFAR Director Wilfredo Cruz.
“Ang excess tariff na Php 8.9-billion ay ipapamahagi sa 1.7-million rice farmers. Ang lahat po ng magsasaka na kasali po rito sa RFFA ay makakatanggap po kayo ng interventions monitoring card na magsisilbi bilang identification card o ID at cash card,” ASEC De Mesa said. Complying with the guidelines for the RCEF-RFFA, farmer-beneficiaries were prioritized and classified based on the receipt of cash assistance from DA, registration in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture, and farming a rice area of two hectares and below. “Tapos na ang kampanya sa eleksyon pero tayo sa sektor ng agrikultura ay tuloy-tuloy pa rin ang kampanya laban sa kahirapan at kagutuman kasi may pagbabadya, ang tawag natin dito global food crisis, hindi lamang dito sa Pilipinas kundi sa buong mundo,” Secretary Dar emphasized. Almost 25,000 Kapampangan farmers are expected to receive direct unconditional cash assistance amounting to Five Thousand Pesos (P5,000.00) until June 2022. RFFA aims to provide monetary assistance as compensation for the projected reduction or loss of farm income arising from the tariffication of the quantitative import restrictions on rice.
