THE PHILIPPINE STAR
THE PHILIPPINE STAR
;
nettrs i rnunsoev I ocToBER 24, zol9
Duterte back use of CCT funds for palay buying
By JESS DIAZ a common version, the OP said it would
consider recommending ihat the Presi-
Presicient Duterte is supporting a bi- dent certify_ it as urgenito speed up its
cameral initjative in Congress to allow the passage and evenfual enactmint into'law
use of bill ions in funds foJ the conditional The committee on agriculture chaired
cash transfer (CCT) progra m for palay by Quezon Rep. MarkEnverga voted at
buying to prop up the price of the produce yesterday's hearing to approve the House
of millions of rice farmers. version of the joint resolution.
Through Executive Secretary Salvador Under the measure, the p600 per
Medialdea, the Office of the'President month in rice subsidy for the benefiiia-
(OP) yesterday submitted to the House ries of the CCT program,
also known as
committee on agriculture a draft ioint Pantawid Pamilyang PiJip ino Program
House-Senate resolution containing the or 4Ps. would be pooled and used by the
congressional authority for such uue. National Food Aurhority {Nle t to U"y
The OP said its drait is similar to the palay from farmers at Pl9 per kilo.
House version of the joint resolution. The NFA would mill the palay and
lf the two cham- distribute the rice to CCI reiipienfs at
bers come up with 20 kilos each. This means that instead of
\\ P^g€ - <,
cash, CCT beneficiaries will receive rice.
The joint resolution states that the rice
zubsidy portion of the 4Ps budget for
this year still has a balance of alniost PZ
billion, which is equal to the NFAs palay
procurement budget.
Additionally, the measure authorizes
the transfer td ihe NFA, also for palay
buying some P2.9 billion similarly af-
propriated for rice subsidy for soldieis,
policemen and other uniformed pelson-
nel iike those in the Philippin; Coast
Guard and Bureau of Jail Minagement
and Penology.
These personnel too would receive 20
kilos of rice each month from the NFA
instead of cash.
Lawmakers are hoping the scheme
would force palay-buying prices up.
'I he congressional
authority would be
initially Iimited to rice subsidy funds still
a vailable for thir year. If it proves effective
in pro,pplng up palay prices, it may be
extended to cover next year's subsidies,
' During the hearing. -director Cemma
Cabuya of the Deoartrnent of Social Wel-
fare aird Developrirent (DS\,r/D) informed
the Enverla committee that they had
agreed with Senate committee on agricul-
tu_re chair Cynthia Villar to pi-lot-t;st the
scheme in Regions 1 to 6 once the joint
resolution is enacted.