By Billy Begas
Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said on Friday that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. plans to utilize the expected P10 billion excess collection from the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEP) to further support farmers to improve local food production.
At the same time, Romualdez said that the House of Representatives will look for funds to provide an additional P40 billion for the irrigation projects next year.
“Nakikita po natin, mukhang magkakaroon po tayo ng excess collections sa RCEF kaya sabi ng ating mahal na Pangulo dapat itong P10 billion na excess collections, ipagamit natin dito sa ating mga magsasaka,” said Romualdez during his visit to the solar-powered irrigation project of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) in San Rafael, Bulacan
He was accompanied by Appropriations Committee chairperson Elizaldy Co, House Deputy Majority Leader for Communications Erwin Tulfo, ACT-CIS Party List Rep. Edvic Yap, and Bulacan Rep. Lorna Silverio.
“At yung hinihingi lang naman sana kaya itong parang namumuhunan ang ating Presidente dito sa mga magsasaka para pagdating ng panahon na maaani itong mga palay, siguro, ipasa na lang ‘yung savings nito sa mamamayan para bumaba naman yung presyo ng ating bigas,” Romualdez added.
The House leader said that the President’s gesture manifests his firm resolve to boost local agricultural production to ensure the stability of price and supply.
Romualdez said these efforts are part of realizing the President’s dream to eventually bring down the price of rice to P20 per kilo.
“Walang masamang mangarap at gumawa lahat ng paraan na ma-achieve natin ito,” Romualdez added.
Noting the importance of irrigation, Romualdez said the House would grant NIA’s plea for additional funding next year.
NIA wrote a letter to the House asking for the restoration of around P90 billion budget that was not included in the proposed 2024 national budget.
“Yung mga hinihingi nila ay over P100 billion pero ang naibigay sa kanila ay mga P40 billion (lang) kaya mukhang makaka-realign tayo ng pondo na over P40 plus billion. So idodoble natin ‘yung nasa NEP (National Expenditure Program) para at least makakagalaw ang NIA,” Romualdez added.
