THE P10-billion Rice Competitveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) that will be funded from the tariffs on rice imports will be free from corruption, Malacañang assured the public on Tuesday, February 19.
The Palace made the statement to allay fears of some groups of farmers, who were worried that the fund would be used for corruption just like the P728 million in fertilizer funds that were allegedly diverted to the 2004 campaign of former President, now House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
In a statement, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo reiterated that President Rodrigo Duterte and his administration have "zero tolerance" for any irregularities in government.
"Good governance is the hallmark of the Duterte Administration and the President has zero tolerance against corruption and wastage of taxpayers’ money," Panelo said.
"We continue to exercise accountability and transparency in all levels of the bureaucracy," he added.
Under Republic Act (RA) 11203, the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund, or simply the Rice Fund, will have an annual appropriation of P10 billion for the next six years, in a bid to help farmers improve their profitability and competitiveness.
The funds will come from the tariffs that will be imposed on rice imports, as follows: 35 percent for rice coming from members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and 50% for rice coming from non-Asean countries.
RA 11203 imposes tariffs on rice imports to replace the quantitative restrictions that were removed. Under this new law, traders may import rice without having to secure permits from the National Food Authority.
At the end of the sixth year of implementation, a mandatory review shall be conducted by the Congressional Oversight Committee on Agricultural and Fisheries Modernization (COCAFM) to determine whether the Rice Fund shall be continued, amended, or terminated.
The Secretary of Agriculture, as mandated by RA 11203, shall be accountable and responsible for the Rice Fund.
Panelo said the Department of Agriculture (DA) would conduct a consultation with farmers' cooperatives and organizations, and local government units, for the effective implementation of the law.
"The Department of Agriculture, in consultation with farmers’ cooperatives and organizations as well as local government units, shall also validate and update the master list of eligible beneficiaries, which include farmers, farmworkers, rice cooperatives and associations," he said.
The law likewise provides that a Rice Industry Roadmap will be formulated and adopted to restructure the government's delivery of support services for the rice sector.
Panelo called on rice farmer groups to become "pro-active" in the cradtng of the Rice Industry Roadmap to ensure that safeguards aimed at eliminating corruption "are in place."
"We ask rice farmer representatives and vital stakeholders to be pro-active in the discussion and review of the crafting of the Rice Industry Roadmap and Internal Rules and Regulations with other concerned agencies of the government to ensure the effective and efficient implementation of the new measure," he said. (SunStar Philippines)