DBM Urged to Release P24B for Rice Fund

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has requested the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to release the remaining balance of the rice tariff collections from last year, amounting to over P24 billion.

- By JASPER EMMANUEL ARCALAS

Agriculture Assistant Secretary and spokesman Arnel de Mesa said the DA hopes that the allocation will be released as early as this quarter so that farmers will benefit from programs in time for the dry season planting season.

The rice tariff collections are part of the annual earmarked rice competitiveness enhancement fund (RCEF) that seeks to modernize and develop the local rice industry.

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) collected a record P34.23 billion in rice tariffs last year, about 14 percent higher than the P29.93 billion in 2023.

The DA already has P10 billion for the RCEF under the General Appropriations Act 2025, which has already been released to the department, De Mesa said.