DA expects additional P20-B budget for 2019

As elevated food prices in the market continue to hurt consumers, the Department of Agriculture (DA) is hoping to lock in an additional funding of P20 billion for next year as a means to improve the country’s food security.

In a press conference yesterday, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said they were optimistic to get an increase in the department’s 2019 budget after House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo expressed her discontent with the agency’s current allocation of P55 billion.

“Speaker Arroyo mentioned during the budget hearing that they are working to increase that,” he said.

The secretary quoted Albay Rep. Joey Salceda as saying that the Speaker was “determined to provide additional funding for agriculture.”

The proposed P20-billion increase is poised to aid rice farmers. The administration’s move to deregulate the entry of rice imports is seen to help bring down prices of the staple in the market, but may hurt the livelihood of local rice producers. Hence, the need for financial assistance.

Sen. Cynthia Villar—who heads the Senate committee on agriculture and food—has proposed an annual P10 billion subsidy for rice farmers once the import quota on rice was lifted. The fund was proposed to be included in the agency’s Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund.

Half of the proposed P20 billion additional budget would be allocated for the subsidy, while the other half would go to the livestock sector. —KARL R.  OCAMPO