HOUSE Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III on Monday announced that one million rice farmers will each receive ₱7,000 in direct cash assistance under the proposed 2026 national budget, as part of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s expanded program to support the country’s agriculture sector.
Speaking at the joint hearing of the House Committee on Agriculture and Food, chaired by Quezon 1st District Rep. Mark Enverga, and the Committee on Ways and Means, chaired by Marikina 2nd District Rep. Miro Quimbo, Speaker Dy said the aid aims to help farmers recover from losses caused by the continuing drop in palay (unmilled rice) prices.
“Tiyak na may darating na tulong. Isang milyong magsasaka ang makatatanggap ng tig-₱7,000 na cash aid upang maibsan ang kanilang pagkalugi dulot ng mababang presyo ng palay,” Dy said.
He noted that the measure complements Executive Order No. 93, which temporarily suspends rice importation to protect local producers from oversupply and depressed farmgate prices.
According to Dy, the cash distribution reflects President Marcos’s “firm commitment” to immediately address farmers’ hardships while pursuing long-term agricultural reforms.
“Ipinakiusap din natin sa Pangulo na ang lahat ng uri ng subsidiya mula sa Department of Agriculture, tulad ng seed subsidy, ay ibigay na rin ng cash upang mas madali at mas direkta itong mapakinabangan ng ating mga magsasaka,” he added.
The Speaker, a long-time advocate of farmers’ welfare, said that in his home province of Isabela, many rice growers are forced to sell palay at ₱8 per kilo, far below the ₱16–₱18 needed to recover production costs.
“Kapag palugi ang benta ng palay, hindi lang kabuhayan ng magsasaka ang nanganganib kundi pati ang seguridad sa pagkain ng buong bansa,” he said.
Dy also pushed for the passage of the proposed Rice Industry and Consumer Empowerment (RICE) Act, a priority measure under the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC). The bill seeks to strengthen the National Food Authority (NFA) and ensure the country’s food sufficiency through key institutional reforms.
“Isa sa mga pangunahing prayoridad na ating isinusulong sa LEDAC ay ang [RICE Act], upang mapatatag ang NFA, mapangalagaan ang kabuhayan ng ating mga magsasaka, at mapanatiling abot-kaya ang bigas para sa bawat Pilipino,” Dy said.
Under the proposed measure, the NFA would regain its power to buy palay during harvest seasons, while rice import tariffs would be raised from 15 percent to 35 percent. A ₱25-per-kilo floor price would also be established to stabilize farmers’ incomes, and 75 percent of tariff revenues would be earmarked for a Price Stabilization Fund to support producers.
Dy said other ongoing initiatives—such as faster crop insurance processing, digitalization of farm services, and interest-free government loans—will further boost rural development.
“Kailangang magkaisa tayo para sa ating mga magsasaka. Sa agarang suporta at pangmatagalang reporma, titiyakin nating may kinabukasan ang kanilang kabuhayan at may murang bigas ang bawat pamilyang Pilipino,” he said.
The joint hearing brought together key officials, rice industry representatives, traders, importers, and farmers’ groups to discuss EO 93 and other measures aimed at stabilizing the rice sector and ensuring food security.
About the Author
