Panayam kay Asec. Arnel de Mesa, Spokesperson, Dept. of Agriculture | UB - video Dailymotion

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00:00 The House Committee on Agriculture and Food approved the amendment to the Rice Tarification Law that will help in lowering the price of rice.

00:09 We will talk to the Department of Agriculture's spokesperson, Assistant Secretary Arnel Demesa.

00:15 Good morning Asec. Asec Demesa, good morning.

00:22 Good morning. Good morning to all the listeners.

00:27 Okay. Let's ask first so our countrymen will know, when it comes to the overall supply and price of rice in the country,

00:34 what is the effect of the amendment of the Rice Tarification Law? Will this help or not?

00:41 The amendment to the Rice Tarification Law will help, especially in cases where we expect a shortage in supply

00:54 and if the price is too high in the market, that's what the amendment to the Rice Tarification Law,

01:05 especially in Section 5, where the NFA is giving power to intervene in the market in cases like this.

01:14 But under the Rice Tarification Law or RTL, there will be a collection of P10 billion to help farmers.

01:28 Aside from that, is it right that there is an additional P40 billion in the General Appropriations Act to help farmers?

01:37 Will the DA monitor those who will go to them?

01:42 Yes. P10 billion under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund goes directly to our farmers.

01:51 P5 billion is for mechanization, P3 billion is for inbred seeds, P1 billion is for lending to them and P1 billion is for training.

02:00 The excess collection goes back to them as rice farmers financial assistance.

02:06 That's P5 billion for each farmer who will not increase their harvest to two hectares.

02:12 The General Appropriations Fund for the National Rice Program is for our farmers.

02:21 RTL is limited to 57 provinces. The General Appropriations Fund is for all farmers in the country.

02:30 Why would the RTL prepare this if in other opinions, the assistance of the farmers in the figure you mentioned is enough?

02:39 RTL is specifically for NFA. Section 4 and 5 is for NFA. Section 4 is for the regulatory function of the NFA.

02:55 As we remember, the remaining function of the NFA is to buy rice for our farmers for buffer stocking during calamities and disasters.

03:07 This is now returning the power to inspect warehouses and to have the power to intervene in the market,

03:16 especially if there will be extraordinary instances where the price is high and the supply is insufficient.

03:25 They can sell rice.

03:27 They can sell rice. Still, they will prioritize our government agencies, retail outlets and of course, our Kadiwa stores.

03:41 Okay. House Speaker Martin Romaldes said, "Asic, it's possible to sell 30 pesos per kilo of rice this July. Can you do that?"

03:50 This is what the National Irrigation Administration is doing, Kadiwa, because they have what we call contract farming.

04:00 That's what our President wants to happen. Our National Food Authority has contract farming with our organized co-ops and associations.

04:13 In this way, they will ensure the input from our government, subsidization, and in return, they will sell rice to the NFA.

04:27 We are sure that the production input will be cheaper. Because of this, there is a chance to sell rice to a family that is cheaper.

04:39 But is the quality of rice good? It might be said that it's for animal feed.

04:46 No. What the NFA is buying now are good quality rice.

04:52 Okay.

04:53 Because our inbred and hybrid are really good quality.

04:57 Okay. In Kadiwa stores, it's 29 pesos per kilo of rice since August.

05:04 Again, the programs that we are organizing with the cooperatives can supply cheaper because the production input is cheaper and we can produce cheap rice.

05:23 It's not possible in many stores. Is it really Kadiwa?

05:26 As of now, we cannot do it in the whole country. There are some places that we can support.

05:34 But that's our continued commitment to have cheap rice in the whole country.

05:40 Is this cheap rice, Asec, Kedemesa, for four-piece only?

05:43 As of now, our rice can be supplied as much as the NFA can afford. If we can see in the substitute bill, the NFA can provide additional funds,

06:03 up to 50 percent of its funds for buffer stocking.

06:07 Okay. Thank you for the good news. Agriculture spokesperson Asec Arnel Demesa. Be careful.

06:15 Thank you very much, Egan. Long live to you. Good morning.

06:19 Egan, you are the first in the news. Subscribe to GMA Integrated News on YouTube.

06:24 To all the listeners abroad, follow us on GMA Pinoy TV and www.gmanews.tv.

06:33 [Music]

Panayam kay Asec. Arnel de Mesa, Spokesperson, Dept. of Agriculture | UB

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