Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III on Monday announced that one million rice farmers will each receive PHP7,000 in direct cash assistance under the 2026 national budget as part of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s expanded support for the agriculture sector.

Speaking at the joint hearing of the House Committee on Agriculture and Food chaired by Quezon 1st District Rep. Mark Enverga and the Committee on Ways and Means chaired by Marikina City 2nd District Rep. Miro Quimbo, Dy said the assistance will help farmers recover from income losses caused by the drop in palay prices.

He said the program is aligned with Executive Order (EO) No. 93, which suspends rice importation to protect local producers from oversupply and low prices.

“Ang pamamahagi ng cash aid ay nagpapakita ng determinasyon ni Pangulong Marcos na tugunan agad ang hirap ng mga magsasaka at isabay rito ang mga repormang pangmatagalan (The distribution of cash aid shows the determination of President Marcos to address the hardship of farmers, and at the same time, to put in place long-term reforms),” Dy said.

“Ipinakiusap din natin sa Pangulo na ang lahat ng uri ng subsidiya mula sa Department of Agriculture, tulad ng seed subsidy, ay ibigay na rin ng cash upang mas madali at mas direkta itong mapakinabangan ng ating mga magsasaka (We also asked the President that all forms of subsidies from the Departmetn of Agriculture, like seed subsidy, will be given in cash so that farmers can easily and directly benefit from it),” he added.

Dy, who has long championed the welfare of farmers and the agriculture sector, said many growers in his home province of Isabela sell palay for as low as PHP8 per kilo, far below the PHP16 to PHP18 needed to recover production costs.

“Kapag palugi ang benta ng palay, hindi lang kabuhayan ng magsasaka ang nanganganib kundi pati ang seguridad sa pagkain ng buong bansa (If farmers sell palay at a loss, it is not only their livelihood that is in peril, but also the food security of the country),” he said.

He also underscored the importance of long-term reforms through the proposed Rice Industry and Consumer Empowerment (RICE) Act, a priority measure in the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC).

The RICE Act seeks to restore the NFA’s power to buy palay during harvest seasons, raise the rice import tariff from 15 to 35 percent, and set a PHP25-per-kilo floor price to stabilize farmers’ incomes.

It will also allocate 75 percent of tariff revenues to a Price Stabilization Fund for farmer support.

Dy added that faster crop insurance processing, digital systems, and interest-free government loans are also part of the administration’s efforts to uplift rural communities.

“Kailangang magkaisa tayo para sa ating mga magsasaka. Sa agarang suporta at pangmatagalang reporma, titiyakin nating may kinabukasan ang kanilang kabuhayan at may murang bigas ang bawat pamilyang Pilipino (We need to unite for our farmers. Through prompt support and long-term reforms, we will ensure the future of their livelihoods and cheap rice for each Filipino family).”

The joint hearing gathered officials from key agencies and representatives from the rice industry, traders, importers, and farmers’ groups to discuss EO 93 and other support programs. (PNA)