Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero urged the national government to maximize the P30-billion Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) to strengthen support for farmers, as the country braces for the combined impact of El Niño and rising global fuel prices.
Escudero said portions of the fund, created under Republic Act No. 11203 or the Rice Tariffication Law, can be directed toward longer-term interventions beyond short-term financial assistance. He pointed to the P15-billion allocation for “Other Priority Programs, Activities and Projects,” which could be used to boost productivity and improve the sector’s resilience.
“Isa pang pwede na makakatulong sa ating mga magsasaka ay yung portion ng P30 billion mula sa rice competitiveness enhancement program, specifically the P15 billion for other priority programs,” Escudero said, noting that the funds may support expanded credit, irrigation, and other productivity-enhancing initiatives.
He stressed that government response should go beyond immediate relief, as farmers face overlapping challenges from a looming dry spell and external pressures linked to tensions in the Middle East driving up fuel prices.
“Makakatulong ang short-term and immediate ayuda subalit kailangan rin natin ng mga pangmatagalang programang magpapatibay sa produksyon at magbibigay ng kakayahan sa ating mga magsasaka na harapin ang tagtuyot at mataas na presyo ng langis,” he said.
Escudero made the proposal as the Department of Agriculture (DA) began distributing P10 billion in assistance under the Presidential Assistance for Farmers and Fisherfolk Program, providing P2,325 each to more than 4.17 million beneficiaries nationwide.
The DA said the cash aid serves as an immediate buffer against rising fuel and input costs, with initial distributions rolled out in regions including Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Western Visayas, and Zamboanga Peninsula.
For Escudero, however, strengthening long-term resilience remains key.
“Ang mahalaga ay matulungan silang makabangon at makapagpatuloy sa produksyon, upang manatiling matatag ang ating suplay ng pagkain kahit sa gitna ng krisis,” he said.
Agriculture officials acknowledged that while current assistance provides short-term relief, it does not fully address structural pressures in the sector. Meanwhile, state weather experts are monitoring the likelihood of a moderate to strong El Niño developing later this year, with probability estimated at 79 percent by June.
The expected dry conditions could strain irrigation systems and reduce agricultural output, particularly for rice and corn, raising renewed concerns over food security in the months ahead.