HJR0015: A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE USE OF THE RICE COMPETITIVENESS ENHANCEMENT FUND (RCEF) AS PROVIDED UNDER THE UNPROGRAMMED APPROPRIATIONS OF THE 2019 GENERAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT (GAA), THE BUREAU OF CUSTOMS' TARIFF COLLECTIONS FROM IMPORTED RICE AS OF 31 AUGU
Joint Resolution No. 15 proposes the use of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), tariff collections from imported rice, and other sources as an emergency fund for direct cash transfers to rice farmers. This resolution acknowledges the severe financial impact on rice farmers due to the decline in farm-gate prices of palay following the liberalization of rice importation. It highlights that farmers, who are already among the poorest, have experienced significant income losses, with current interventions like the SURE Loan Assistance proving insufficient for the majority of affected farmers. The resolution aims to provide immediate financial assistance to mitigate these losses and help farmers improve their methods.
The significance of this resolution lies in its potential to offer crucial financial relief to millions of rice farmers in the Philippines, many of whom live below the poverty line. By authorizing direct cash transfers, it seeks to cushion the adverse effects of rice tariffication, which has led to plummeting palay prices and substantial income reductions for farmers. The resolution also mandates monthly reporting from the Department of Agriculture to Congress regarding the fund's utilization, ensuring transparency and oversight. This measure is a vital step towards supporting a vulnerable sector of the population and addressing the economic challenges they face in a liberalized rice market.