Senator Cynthia Villar has sponsored in the Senate the proposed P122 billion proposed budget of the Department of Agriculture for 2019.
“The Department of Agriculture’s budget is 3.34 percent of the proposed national budget amounting to P3.757 trillion.”
Villar, chair of the Committee on Agriculture and Food, said DA’s budget is 3.34 percent of the proposed national budget amounting to P3.757 trillion.
“We are hopeful, Mr. President, that the proposed 2019 budget of DA will realize our goal of lifting Filipino farmers and fisherfolks out of poverty. Particularly, rice and coconut farmers, who make up for seven million of the 12 million farmers in the country since under next year’s proposed budget, we have realigned P20 billion to provide for standby appropriations for the rice and coconut farmers,” the seasoned legislator said in her sponsorship speech.
“We have realigned P20 billion to provide for standby appropriations for the rice and coconut farmers.”
Of the total budget, P36.34 billion is earmarked for Programs (P15.70 billion) and Projects (P14.97 billion).
The programs are as follows:
- National Rice Program, P7.41 billion
- National Livestock, P1.05 billion
- National Corn, P1.53 billion
- National High Value Crops, P1.48 billion
- National Organic Agriculture, P545.86 million
- Halal Food Industry Development, P44.63 million
- Other Regular Programs, P3.63 billion
The veteran lawmaker also highlighted the P10 billion Rice Fund, the most significant component of the rice tariffication bill which will be spent to improve competitiveness and productivity of farmers.
The Rice Fund will be allocated as follows:
- 50 percent wil go to the Philippine Center for Post Harvest Development and Modernization to provide farmers with rice farm machineries and equipment;
- 30 percent will be released to the Philippine Rice Research Institute to be used for the development, propagation and promotion of inbred rice seeds to rice farmers and the organization of rice farmers into seed growers associations engaged in seed production and trade;
- 10 percent will be made available in the form of credit facility with minimal interest rates and with minimum collateral requirements to rice farmers and cooperatives to be managed by the Land Bank of the Philippines and the Development Bank of the Philippines; and
- 10 percent will be set aside to fund extension services by PhilMech, Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority for teaching skills on rice crop production, modern rice farming techniques, seed production, farm mechanization, and knowledge/ technology transfer through farm schools nationwide.
- Likewise, P10 billion has also been earmarked for the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Fund to increase the income of coconut farmers and to support the developmental activities of the Philippine Coconut Authority. The P10 billion is divided as follows:
- P2 billion or 20 percent for infrastructure program,
- P2 billion or 20 percent for planting, replanting and establishment of hybrid coconut nurseries,
- P1.5 billion for 15 percent for shared facilities,
- P1 billion or 10 percent for intercropping,
- P1 billion or 10 percent for research & development, coconut disease prevention, control and eradication,
- P1 billion or 10 percent for credit through LandBank and the Development Bank of the Philippines,
- P500 million or 5 percent for fertilization,
- P500 million or 5 percent for new products and all derivatives of coconut oil and marketing, and finally
- P500 million or 5 percent for training of farmers through TESDA.
“We are confident, Mr. President, that with the efficient utilization of the 2019 budget and implementation of programs and projects of the department, we are on track in removing the barriers that keep Filipino farmers and fisherfolks from being more competitive and profitable,” the lady senator said.