MANILA, Philippines — The government is being urged to extend the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), which will end in June 2024, based on appeals received by the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHilMech).
In a statement, PHilMech executive director Dionisio Alvindia said the agency has been getting pleas from local officials and farmers organizations to extend the RCEF beyond June 2024.
Among the first to formally declare the plea to extend RCEF is from Kalinga.
During the distribution of farm machines in the province in February, John Paul Baguiwan, a representative of the office of Kalinga governor James Edduba, sought to extend the RCEF program for another six years.
PhilMech said several farmer leaders in Kalinga also expressed their sentiments on extending the RCEF.
Some groups said more farmers still need access to free farming equipment.
“We wish that RCEF be extended so more farmers like us can be assisted like when RCEF started. It was through the program that we got organized and was registered so we can avail of the machines. We want the program extended so more farmers can also get their farm machines for free,” said Leila Apita of SAGPAT farmers association.
“We want the program extended so there will be more farmers who will receive machines, and benefit from the assistance that will help them attain progress,” PUR Multi-Purpose Cooperative bookkeeper Frederick Aguban said.
PHilMech is implementing the RCEF-Mechanization Program with an allocation of P5 billion per year from 2019 to 2024, representing 50 percent of the P10-billion annual allocation for the fund.
The remaining 50 percent are allocated as follows: P3 billion for the distribution of high-yielding seeds, P1 billion for training and capacitating farmers, and P1 billion for credit support.
RCEF was created by Republic Act 11203 or the Rice Tariffication Law, which has provisions allocating all tariffs collected from rice imports for programs to benefit Filipino rice farmers and the industry.