The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Tuesday underscored the need for timely aid distribution to farmers during the planting season to boost local palay (unhusked rice) output.

This, after President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., in a meeting on Monday, ordered the DA to ensure “no delay” in distributing agricultural support to farmers.

“Kapag timely ‘yung delivery mo ng mga assistance ng input seeds and fertilizer, mas masisigurado natin iyong una, iyong tamang oras ng kanilang pagtatanim. Mas masisigurado natin iyong (If the delivery of assistance, like input seeds and fertilizers, is timely, we can be more sure that first, there will be a proper timing of planting. We can also be sure of our) productivity,” DA Spokesperson Arnel de Mesa said in an interview.

The DA earlier expressed optimism about achieving local production recovery for 2025, hiking its projected palay output to 20 million metric tons (MMT), higher than the 2024 yearend projection of 19.3 MMT.

“Pangunahin doon iyong tagubilin na dahil planting season na ay maibigay iyong mga pangangailangan ng ating mga magsasaka sa panahon ng pagtatanim. Ine-expect natin na ngayon mas maganda ang panahon kumpara doon sa naranasan natin ng (The primary consideration is the directive of the President to provide the needs of farmers during the planting season. We are expecting a better climate compared to what we have experienced) last year,” De Mesa said.

He also said that a higher production, through the government’s intensified support, may result in higher labor demand in the other phases of the production process.

“So, ang balik niyan sa economy natin (the return to our economy), agricultural economy and the economy as a whole, mas maganda (is better),” De Mesa said.

He cited Marcos’ instructions to the Department of Budget and Management for the timely release of funds to realize the DA’s support to farmers.

Under the revised Rice Tariffication law, the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund has tripled to PHP30 billion, from the previous PHP10 billion, sourced from tariffs collected on imported rice.

“Alam natin na ang nakalagay sa (We know that it’s included in the) general appropriations, PHP10 billion muna, out of the 30 billion,” De Mesa said.

Of the initial PHP10 billion, PHP6 billion will be allocated for farm mechanization and PHP4 billion for seeds.

“So, ine-expect natin na dahil maganda naman iyong (we are expecting that since there’s a good) collection last year, more than PHP30 billion for the tariff ng bigas, iyong balance na PHP20 billion ay maibibigay din nang mas maaga (of imported rice, the PHP20 billion balance will be given earlier).”

Other components to be funded by the allocation include solar irrigation, diversification and rice farmers’ financial assistance. (PNA)