Unang Balita is the news segment of GMA Network's daily morning program, Unang Hirit. It's anchored by Arnold Clavio, Susan Enriquez, Ivan Mayrina, and Mariz Umali, and airs on GMA-7 Mondays to Fridays at 5:30 AM (PHL Time). For more videos from Unang Balita, visit http://www.gmanetwork.com/unangbalita.
#GMAIntegratedNews #KapusoStream
Breaking news and stories from the Philippines and abroad:
GMA Integrated News Portal: http://www.gmanews.tv
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/gmanews
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gmanews
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/gmanews
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/gmanews
GMA Network Kapuso programs on GMA Pinoy TV: https://gmapinoytv.com/subscribe
#GMAIntegratedNews #KapusoStream
Breaking news and stories from the Philippines and abroad:
GMA Integrated News Portal: http://www.gmanews.tv
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/gmanews
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gmanews
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/gmanews
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/gmanews
GMA Network Kapuso programs on GMA Pinoy TV: https://gmapinoytv.com/subscribe
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00 The House Committee on Agriculture and Food approved the amendment to the Rice Tarification Law that will help in lowering the price of rice.
00:09 We will talk to the Department of Agriculture's spokesperson, Assistant Secretary Arnel Demesa.
00:15 Good morning Asec. Asec Demesa, good morning.
00:22 Good morning. Good morning to all the listeners.
00:27 Okay. Let's ask first so our countrymen will know, when it comes to the overall supply and price of rice in the country,
00:34 what is the effect of the amendment of the Rice Tarification Law? Will this help or not?
00:41 The amendment to the Rice Tarification Law will help, especially in cases where we expect a shortage in supply
00:54 and if the price is too high in the market, that's what the amendment to the Rice Tarification Law,
01:05 especially in Section 5, where the NFA is giving power to intervene in the market in cases like this.
01:14 But under the Rice Tarification Law or RTL, there will be a collection of P10 billion to help farmers.
01:28 Aside from that, is it right that there is an additional P40 billion in the General Appropriations Act to help farmers?
01:37 Will the DA monitor those who will go to them?
01:42 Yes. P10 billion under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund goes directly to our farmers.
01:51 P5 billion is for mechanization, P3 billion is for inbred seeds, P1 billion is for lending to them and P1 billion is for training.
02:00 The excess collection goes back to them as rice farmers financial assistance.
02:06 That's P5 billion for each farmer who will not increase their harvest to two hectares.
02:12 The General Appropriations Fund for the National Rice Program is for our farmers.
02:21 RTL is limited to 57 provinces. The General Appropriations Fund is for all farmers in the country.
02:30 Why would the RTL prepare this if in other opinions, the assistance of the farmers in the figure you mentioned is enough?
02:39 RTL is specifically for NFA. Section 4 and 5 is for NFA. Section 4 is for the regulatory function of the NFA.
02:55 As we remember, the remaining function of the NFA is to buy rice for our farmers for buffer stocking during calamities and disasters.
03:07 This is now returning the power to inspect warehouses and to have the power to intervene in the market,
03:16 especially if there will be extraordinary instances where the price is high and the supply is insufficient.
03:25 They can sell rice.
03:27 They can sell rice. Still, they will prioritize our government agencies, retail outlets and of course, our Kadiwa stores.
03:41 Okay. House Speaker Martin Romaldes said, "Asic, it's possible to sell 30 pesos per kilo of rice this July. Can you do that?"
03:50 This is what the National Irrigation Administration is doing, Kadiwa, because they have what we call contract farming.
04:00 That's what our President wants to happen. Our National Food Authority has contract farming with our organized co-ops and associations.
04:13 In this way, they will ensure the input from our government, subsidization, and in return, they will sell rice to the NFA.
04:27 We are sure that the production input will be cheaper. Because of this, there is a chance to sell rice to a family that is cheaper.
04:39 But is the quality of rice good? It might be said that it's for animal feed.
04:46 No. What the NFA is buying now are good quality rice.
04:52 Okay.
04:53 Because our inbred and hybrid are really good quality.
04:57 Okay. In Kadiwa stores, it's 29 pesos per kilo of rice since August.
05:04 Again, the programs that we are organizing with the cooperatives can supply cheaper because the production input is cheaper and we can produce cheap rice.
05:23 It's not possible in many stores. Is it really Kadiwa?
05:26 As of now, we cannot do it in the whole country. There are some places that we can support.
05:34 But that's our continued commitment to have cheap rice in the whole country.
05:40 Is this cheap rice, Asec, Kedemesa, for four-piece only?
05:43 As of now, our rice can be supplied as much as the NFA can afford. If we can see in the substitute bill, the NFA can provide additional funds,
06:03 up to 50 percent of its funds for buffer stocking.
06:07 Okay. Thank you for the good news. Agriculture spokesperson Asec Arnel Demesa. Be careful.
06:15 Thank you very much, Egan. Long live to you. Good morning.
06:19 Egan, you are the first in the news. Subscribe to GMA Integrated News on YouTube.
06:24 To all the listeners abroad, follow us on GMA Pinoy TV and www.gmanews.tv.
06:33 [Music]