00:00The launching of the 20 peso kilo of rice was a huge promise made and eventually kept.
00:05The kickoff sailor distribution in the Visayas was the easy part.
00:09Sustaining and expanding its coverage is the true test and hard part,
00:13which Congress should play a huge role in keeping this program alive and thriving.
00:17As our Mera Les Moras reports.
00:21The House leadership is confident that the administration's 20 pesos rice program
00:27will greatly help Filipinos.
00:28To further improve and expand this initiative,
00:31they have also proposed various measures that can be implemented.
00:35According to House Committee on Agriculture and Food, Vice Chair Elroy Villoforte,
00:40the Masagana rice program can be tweaked so that affordable rice can be sold
00:44not only in selected areas but throughout the entire country.
00:48Under his proposal, farmers will be given a pre-planting assistance on condition
00:52that they sell their produce to the government at a cheaper price until it reaches the market.
00:57Agri-Partnerist Representative Wilbert Lee also has a similar proposal under his cheaper rice bill.
01:04In addition, he suggested the following measures that can also be implemented.
01:08Dagdag na suporta sa mga post-harvest facilities tulad ng mga dryers,
01:14treasers, rice mills, at transport facilities.
01:18Pati na ang pagpaparami sa mga kadiwa centers nationwide.
01:23House Speaker Martin Romualdes, on the other hand,
01:25said the government can also implement a rice subsidy program
01:28instead of direct cash transfers similar to what was done in Camiguin
01:32through the cooperation of the LGU, DSWD, and local retailers.
01:37He said, this model can be studied further and Congress stands ready to help
01:42in crafting legislation and funding for it.
01:45Melales Moras from the National TV Network for a New and Better Philippines.
