His Excellency President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., officially signed today, December 9, 2024, the Amendments to the Agricultural Tariffication Act or Republic Act No. 12078, extending the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) for another six (6) years with enhanced budget allocation for seeds and mechanization programs. The signing ceremony was held at the Malacañan Palace.

This law is significant, especially in addressing the country’s rice supply shortage. It ensures that rice farmers are supported with helpful interventions like seed development, modern farming equipment, low-interest credit, farmer training, composting facilities, pest management, solar irrigation systems, and soil health improvement.

In his speech, the president emphasized the importance of reducing postharvest losses that can be converted into a whole year of rice consumption for at least 3.4 million Filipinos.

“The law also places significant emphasis on reducing postharvest losses. By preventing up to 375 thousand tons of milled rice from being wasted annually we can help feed an additional 3.4M Filipinos each year for the next six years improving food security and making rice more accessible to everyone,” President Marcos emphasized.

Senator Cynthia A. Villar principally authored the RA 11203 or the Rice Tariffication Law and the currently signed law, the Agricultural Tariffication Act, or the RA 12078.

DA-PHilMech is the lead implementing agency of the RCEF Mechanization Program, distributing free rice production machinery and postharvest facilities to qualified farmers’ cooperatives and associations (FCAs) and local government units (LGUs).

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