More Support To Local Food Producers Is Long-Term Solution To Inflation – Lee
April 23, 2024 More Support To Local Food Producers Is Long-Term Solution To Inflation – Lee AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert “Wise” T. Lee said on Tuesday that the government should provide more support to farmers and fisherfolk to boost local production and effectively address inflation. The Bicolano lawmaker underscored that local food producers deserve better services from the government which should be an enabler to achieve food security and cheaper basic commodities. Lee made the statement after President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. issued Administrative Order (AO) No. 20 to streamline administrative procedures and policies on the importation of agricultural products and remove non-tariff barriers in a bid to secure food supply and alleviate rising domestic prices. “Nauunawaan po natin ang layunin ng AO 20 para mapababa agad ang presyo ng bilihin at mabawasan ang pasanin ng ating mga consumers. Pero maituturing po natin itong short term solution. Nakikita po natin na long-term solution sa inflation ang dagdag na suporta sa ating mga local food producers na pakikinabangan ng taumbayan—mula sa ating mga magsasaka at mangingisda hanggang sa ating mga consumers,” he said. “Hindi naman po tayo pwedeng maging import dependent habambuhay. Pabilisin man natin ang proseso ng importasyon, hindi natin makokontrol ang export policy ng ibang bansa na anytime pwedeng maghigpit, o magbago depende sa mga pangyayari tulad ng kalamidad o kaguluhan sa ibang mga bansa,” he added. Inflation rate in the country rose to 3.7% in March from the previous month’s 3.4% with food inflation as the main contributor to the overall inflation. The Bicolano lawmaker reiterated that the government must aggressively address factors contributing to food inflation to curb rising prices of basic goods. “As our food security soldiers, let us demand better for our farmers and fisherfolk. Addressing their needs will help them boost their production that will result to lower food prices. Kung mapapababa ang presyo ng pagkain, lalo na ang bigas, mapapahupa natin ang overall inflation,” the solon stressed. “Pabilisin natin ang paghahatid ng ayuda, na dapat on time dumarating sa kanila; bigyan ng access sa murang farm inputs; bigyan ng dagdag na post-harvest facilities na hindi kilo-kilometro ang requirements bago makuha; bilhin ng gobyerno ang palay sa mas mataas na presyo para masiguro ang kita ng mga lokal na magsasaka, at sugpuin ang talamak na agri-smuggling na pumapatay sa kabuhayan ng marami nating kababayan,” he added. Lee also pointed out that importation should only come should the need arises and not be the sole solution to increasing domestic prices saying, “We haven’t even fully maximized efforts to boost our local productivity, yet we are always drawn to importation.” “Pangmatagalang benepisyo ang hatid ng pagpapalakas sa lokal na produksyon. Walang talo, walang lugi, walang mapag-iiwanan, Winner Tayo Lahat,” Lee said. “Sa dagdag na suporta para sa ating mga agri workers, mapapataas ang kanilang kita, mas makukumbinsi silang taasan ang kanilang produksyon, na magpapababa sa presyo ng bilihin, at makakaambag sa ating food security. Sa paraang ito, mababawasan din ang pangamba ng ating mga kababayan sa kaliwa’t kanang gastusin, kasama na ang lalong pagkabaon sa utang kung may magkasakit sa pamilya dahil walang pantustos sa pagpapagamot,” he added. Leave a Reply Cancel reply Logged in as admin_wilbertleeagriadvocacy. Edit your profile. Log out? Required fields are marked * Message* Latest Post 28 Nov 2024 Expanded Crop Insurance Key to Food Security, Says AGRI Party-list 26 Nov 2024 AGRI Party-list Urges Senate to Prioritize Crop Insurance Expansion 25 Nov 2024 AGRI Party-list Pushes for Expanded Crop Insurance Amid Calamities Categories Advocay Legislation Support Share on Social Media Advocacy, Support April 23, 2024 Hot News Expanded Crop Insurance Key to Food Security, Says AGRI Party-list AGRI Party-list Urges Senate to Prioritize Crop Insurance Expansion AGRI Party-list Pushes for Expanded Crop Insurance Amid Calamities Amid calamities AGRI PL CALLS TO FAST-TRACK EXPANSION OF CROP INSURANCE COVERAGE Cong. Wilbert Lee Stresses Farmer Support as Inflation Solution at Kapihan sa QC Cong. Wilbert Lee: Supporting Farmers is Best Solution to Curb Inflation Cong. Wilbert Manoy “Wise” Lee Advocates for Stronger Support to Farmers Amid Inflation Cong. Wilbert Lee: “Ang pinakamabisang solusyon sa inflation ay pagtulong sa mga magsasaka” Cong. Wilbert Lee Champions Bigger Budget for Agriculture in 2025 Cong. Manoy Wilbert Lee Demands Action on Coconut Farmers’ Health Benefits Amid Delays
Lee Lauds High RCEF Utilization, Asks PhilMech To Provide More Post-Harvest Equipment
March 12, 2024 Lee Lauds High RCEF Utilization, Asks PhilMech To Provide More Post-Harvest Equipment 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. Leave a Reply Cancel reply Logged in as admin_wilbertleeagriadvocacy. Edit your profile. Log out? Required fields are marked * Message* Latest Post 28 Nov 2024 Expanded Crop Insurance Key to Food Security, Says AGRI Party-list 26 Nov 2024 AGRI Party-list Urges Senate to Prioritize Crop Insurance Expansion 25 Nov 2024 AGRI Party-list Pushes for Expanded Crop Insurance Amid Calamities Categories Advocay Legislation Support Share on Social Media Advocacy March 12, 2024 Hot News Expanded Crop Insurance Key to Food Security, Says AGRI Party-list AGRI Party-list Urges Senate to Prioritize Crop Insurance Expansion AGRI Party-list Pushes for Expanded Crop Insurance Amid Calamities Amid calamities AGRI PL CALLS TO FAST-TRACK EXPANSION OF CROP INSURANCE COVERAGE Cong. Wilbert Lee Stresses Farmer Support as Inflation Solution at Kapihan sa QC Cong. Wilbert Lee: Supporting Farmers is Best Solution to Curb Inflation Cong. Wilbert Manoy “Wise” Lee Advocates for Stronger Support to Farmers Amid Inflation Cong. Wilbert Lee: “Ang pinakamabisang solusyon sa inflation ay pagtulong sa mga magsasaka” Cong. Wilbert Lee Champions Bigger Budget for Agriculture in 2025 Cong. Manoy Wilbert Lee Demands Action on Coconut Farmers’ Health Benefits Amid Delays