TUPAD payouts suspended
MANILA, Philippines — Heeding a recommendation of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), the Department of Agriculture (DA) will defer the full implementation of the P20-per-kilo rice project until after the May 12 midterm elections.
“The selling of (rice by) local government units (LGUs) will start on May 13,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. told The STAR yesterday.
Tiu Laurel led the launching of the program in Cebu yesterday, which coincides with the commemoration of Labor Day.
“Today, Labor Day, we fulfill a promise made three years ago by President Marcos to the Filipino people to bring down the price of rice to P20 per kilo. That promise is now a reality – Benteng Bigas Meron Na,” Tiu Laurel said.
He assured Filipinos that the quality of rice to be sold initially to people in the Visayas regions would not be affected by the deferment.
“There will be no issue on the quality (of rice). The delay will only be for a few days,” Tiu Laurel said.
Comelec Chairman George Garcia earlier advised the government to defer the implementation of the project “to avoid being accused of politicizing the rice rollout.”
Although the Comelec earlier granted the DA an exemption to support the government’s cheaper rice program, Garcia noted that the LGUs, which are partly subsidizing the program implementation, are covered by the 10-day ban on the distribution of all forms of ayuda (welfare and social assistance).
The provincial government of Cebu and Food Terminal Inc. signed a memorandum of agreement on the shared subsidy of the P20 rice initiative pilot test in the province.
The pilot test, which will run until December, will cover other regions in the Visayas and should benefit around 800,000 households or four million people.
According to the DA, Cebu LGUs have drawn 3,700 50-kilo bags of rice from the National Food Authority (NFA) warehouse in the city from April 29 to May 1.
The NFA continues to reposition stocks from rice producing areas in the Visayas and Mindoro to areas that have little rice output like Cebu, Tiu Laurel said.
He added that 380,000 metric tons of rice from the NFA are ready for distribution.
Aside from allocating P5 billion for the program, President Marcos directed the DA to draw up plans to extend the food program until 2028 and expand it nationwide to cover as many financially challenged Filipinos as possible.
Following the new schedule, DA spokesman Arnel de Mesa said everything is ready for the implementation of the project on May 13.
De Mesa said beneficiaries could buy up to 40 kilos per month, or 10 kilos per week.
“For Kadiwa areas, beneficiaries can avail of up to 30 kilos per household. If the response is good, it helps the NFA to continue the procurement of palay from rice farmers,” De Mesa said.
Speaker Martin Romualdez said the P20-per-kilo rice program is sustainable with the expected increase in palay harvest arising from improved government support for the agriculture sector.
Romualdez made the statement in an interview after inaugurating the Castañas Centro Communal Irrigation System in Sariaya, Quezon.
He said the solar-powered pump irrigation projects would support the envisioned expanded rollout of cheaper rice.
“The solar irrigation program in the municipality of Sariaya is a big help. What is happening in the Visayas will also be applicable here because it will become sustainable, not only in Sariaya but also in the entire Luzon,” Romualdez added.
The Sariaya solar irrigation project covers 50 hectares and benefits 33 farmer-families, providing a sustainable water supply while reducing dependence on expensive diesel pumps.
According to Romualdez, farmers in Sariaya can save up to P80,000 per cropping season by using the solar irrigation system built by the National Irrigation Administration, instead of diesel-powered pumps.
TUPAD payout suspended
Meanwhile, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) announced yesterday that payouts for the beneficiaries of the government’s Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program nationwide will be suspended starting today until after election day.
Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said DOLE would abide by the Comelec’s 10-day total ban on the distribution of payouts.
“The payout will be suspended until after the elections to avoid accusations of beings used in vote buying,” Laguesma said in Filipino.
He added that DOLE would not allow TUPAD to be used in vote buying and has issued a directive to stop the payout to its program beneficiaries.
As of yesterday, the DOLE distributed P2.57 billion in financial assistance under TUPAD and other livelihood grants. – Jose Rodel Clapano, Mayen Jaymalin