Senators call for action to address rice crisis

CEBU, Philippines — Three senators are now calling for various actions to address the rice crisis and the continued increases in the price of other basic goods.

Senator Cynthia Villar, who was the guest speaker during the COOPNATCCO Partylist's 5th National Party Congress in Cebu yesterday, said the rice supply in the country is being hoarded by some rice traders resulting to an increase in its price.

Villar also echoed the call of Senator Nancy Binay who urged the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to turn over the P200-million worth of smuggled rice the agency has seized to the Department of Social Welfare and Development and other concerned agencies to help cover the rising cost of goods.

"Di ba yung DSWD, they bought rice from the National Food Authority para sa kanilang relief operations. So, why not i-donate na lang sa DSWD yung mga nahuhuli nilang bigas," said Villar.

Binay said in a statement that instead of letting the rice rot in its warehouses, the BOC should consider donating the over 2,500 tons of rice in its warehouse to concerned agencies especially now that country is facing its highest inflation rate in nine years.

Senator Risa Hontiveros, in a separate statement, said that lowering the price of rice has to be the priority policy through a shift from quantitative restrictions to moderate tariffs if necessary.  She also suggested for more timely imports under the present regime.

"This must be done while providing protection to and ensuring the competitiveness of Filipino farmers," Hontiveros said.

Meanwhile, Villar, in her speech during the COOPNATCCO event, informed the leaders and members of the 800-strong cooperatives nationwide, that the Senate has ratified the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Act, of which she is the principal author. This act would create the P105-billion coconut levy trust fund for the 3.5 million coconut farmers in the country.

Villar said that this is among the priority legislative measures cited by President Rodrigo Duterte during his State of the Nation Address.

The senator also said that the fund will be managed by the reconstituted Philippine Coconut Authority which will be composed of four representatives from the government – one each from the PCA, Department of Finance, Department of Agriculture, Department of Budget and Management; one coconut industry stakeholder; and six representatives from coconut farmers – two representatives each from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

Last week, Villar said that she also sponsored the accompanying bill that will bring about the reconstitution of the PCA wherein P5 billion will be spent from the coco levy fund for the coconut farmers for the following programs: shared facilities, scholarship program, empowerment of coconut farmer organization and their cooperatives, farm improvement to encourage self-sufficiency, and health and medical benefits.

"That yearly fund allocation is separate from the automatic appropriation of P10 billion to the annual budget of the PCA from the national budget, which is for the development of the coconut industry,” she said.

She added that the P10  billion will be earmarked for the following programs: infrastructure, planting, replanting and establishment of nurseries, intercropping, shared facilities, research and development, disease control and eradication, fertilization, new products and derivatives of coconut oil products, and credit through LandBank of the Philippines and Development Bank of the Philippines.

"I have been working really to remove all the barriers that prevent farmers from being successful and competitive," Villar added.

After her speech, COOPNATCCO has expressed their support and endorsement to Villar in the 2019 national and local elections, for her continued support to the cooperative sector in the country.

When sought for comments, Villar said that she is thankful for their support and for believing in her programs in alleviating the plight of the poor and poverty reduction. —/GAN (FREEMAN)