AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert “Wise” T. Lee lauded the high utilization rate of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund’s (RCEF) Mechanization Program.

“Nakakatuwa na sa wakas ay nama-maximize na ang paggamit sa pondong para naman talaga sa ating mga magsasaka,” Lee said.

The Bicolano lawmaker was reacting to the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization’s (PhilMech) report of a 91.6 percent delivery rate for the machines procured under the RCEF.

“Ang pera ng taumbayan, dapat gamitin para sa kapakinabangan ng taumbayan. Kaya nagpapasalamat tayo sa pakikipagtulungan ng PhilMech, sa pamumuno ni Dir. Dionisio Alvindia, para pagaanin ang pasanin ng ating mga magsasaka at mangingisda na itinuturing nating food security soldiers,” Lee said.

“Sa pag-iikot natin, itong farm equipment and mechanization ang talagang pinakahinihintay nila para mapataas ang kanilang produksyon at kita, na magagamit nila pantustos sa iba pa nilang mga bayarin, lalo na sa panahon ng emergency o pagkakasakit,” he added.  

Data from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) revealed that the RCEF’s utilization in 2019 was a mere 36.54 percent.

It improved to 86.45 percent in 2020, but slipped to 80 percent in 2021 and further declined to 76.16 percent in 2022.

The PhilMech attributed the RCEF’s low utilization levels to delays in the initial disbursements.

The agency said it has already obligated ₱24.9 billion for the procurement of agricultural equipment and has distributed 28,817 pieces of farm equipment including 14,713 land preparation machines; 4,284 crop establishment technologies; 8,210 harvesting and threshing equipment; 768 drying technologies, and 842 milling equipment.

“Matagal na nating sinasabi na ang susi sa food security ng bansa at para maging Winner Tayo Lahat ay ang pagkakaroon ng mga karagdagang post-harvest facilities tulad ng cold storages, dryers, at transport facilities,” Lee stressed.

“Bukod sa dagdagan, panawagan din natin sa PhilMech na pabilisin pa ang pamimigay ng post-harvest equipment. Dapat simplehan at iklian lang ang mga requirements na hinihingi ng gobyerno mula sa mga magsasaka at kooperatiba.”

“Naghain din tayo ng House Resolution No. 1636 para tukuyin at suriin ang mga naging hamon at problema sa RCEF, at nang mas mapabuti pa ang implementasyon nito sa isusulong natin na pagpapalawig ng programa,” the solon added.

The RCEF is a six-year allocation of ₱10 billion anually starting 2019, granted under Republic Act No. 11203 or the “Rice Tariffication Law.” It is meant to improve rice farmers’ competitiveness amid the liberalized rice trade policy.

PhilMech is the implementing agency for the RCEF’s farm mechanization component. The program gets ₱5 billion of the annual RCEF.