Zambales farmers urged to support rice tarrification law

SAN FELIPE, Zambales – Senator Cynthia Villar last week urged Zambales farmers to embrace the proposed rice tariffication law which will earn some R10 billion for the rice industry.

Villar, who graced the San Felipe Farmers Association General Assembly, told stakeholders that the bill would provide a R10 billion Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF).

She added that part of the fund would be used in the mechanization of rice farming.

Villar stressed that the mechanization of rice farming is crucial to the development of the industry.

She added that this will allow the agriculture sector, especially the rice industry, to grow and become more competitive in view of the regional economic integration under the ASEAN economic community.

She explained that half of the R10 billion fund will be allotted to the Philippine Center for Post Harvest Development and Mechanization (PHilMech).

The fund, she added, will benefit farmers’ groups through the distribution of needed machineries.

The bicameral committee approved on November 22 the allocation of R10 billion to the RCEF that will be utilized for the improvement of farm machineries and equipment.

Villar, who is also the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, said that this will authorize the NFA to buy rice from local farmers.