slfffiard

{! 1i
ruunsonv, sEeTEMBER 12, 2o1e
mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Emergency aid to farmers sought

By Maricel V. Cruz kilo in the second week ofAugust. between rice farmers and rice traders."
He said this far's urift on further rice At the Sept 3 Senate hearing, it was
impormion could be raised to help rice firmers revealed that P4 billion was still lefi of the
OINING the growing call for aid for farmersaffected cope with the drop in ihe prices ofpalay. RCEF dlailable for release and P9.19 billion
by the Rice Tariffication Law, opposition lawynakers Saying the "current rice market had been collected by the Bw€au ofCustoms
anomalies were all about geographical as tariffrevenues from rice importation
on Wednesday filed a joint resolution authorizing monopolies and economic sabotage to "We see no reason why we can't Use this
the use of the unappropriated Rice Competitiveness farmers and to consume$. a legislator lrom Pl3 billion to immediately give aid to our
the Bicol region is seeking legal redress farmers who need it the most. Ttere ii no
Enhancement Fund and tariffs collected under the law as against abusive dce tradem. point to eaming from imports ifour people
In an aide memoir couched in teohnocmtic won't benefit from it, especially the most
direct emergenby cash assistance. language that he sent to Presidenr Rodrigo affected, said Quimbo.
Duterte, Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and As rice farmers complained of the low
"We have to immediately switch gears to the burden ofthe small holder fatmers." House Majority Leader Ferdinand Martin sellin! price of palay, Quimbo, a former
now that it is evident that the RCEB as it Meanwhile, Agdcultwe Seqetary Romualdez, Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda, offrcial of the Philippine Competition
is, is not enough to cushion the elfects of William Dar said the National Food chairman of ihe Housa Committee on Ways Commission, called on the PCC to probe
the Rice Tadffication Law," one of the Authority will buy unmilled rice from local and Means, said: "Rice liberalization, while rice millers and haders for possible
members of the House minority bloc, Rep. farmen at a higher price. curing certain inefficiencies in the rice ftade violation ofthe Philippine Competition Act
Stella Quimbo of Marikina City, said. Dar said the government will buy palay sector, most notAbly the shortfall between by abusing farmers through "unfail' and
"What our farmers nee d is immediate with percent moisture content at Pl9 per
14 supply and demand, has not addressed "severe" reduction of palay prices.
cash assistance, not loans that will only add kilo against the farmgate price ofPl762 par chronic inequities in the bargaining power With Rio N, Araja

rtp4C6- 4.2 Y