DAYS after asking for a P1 billion supplemental budget, the Department of Agriculture (DA) is requesting for a P32-billion supplemental fund for the expeditious implementation of the Ahon Lahat, Pagkaing Sapat Kontra sa COVID-19 program.
The program is aimed at providing immediate interventions for food production availability, accessibility affordability and price stabilization.
“With this pandemic, there is tightening of global food supply and we know that when there is not enough food, disorder is probable. While improving our food adequacy level, we should aim for food security. If no action is done, the threat of hunger is as real as the threat of the virus,” said DA Secretary William Dar.
Dar said the supplemental budget will be used to immediately mobilize support to farmers and other players in the food value chain to expand food production areas as well as increase level of productivity.
From the additional budget, P7 billion will be used to increase the procurement fund of the National Food Authority to buy palay from local farmers while P1 billion will be used for the upscaling of KADIWA ni Ani at Kita to handle production monitoring, provincial services on wheels, transportation and trucking services of produce from sources.
A total of P8.5 billion will go to the rice resiliency project broken down into P2 billion for the Enhanced Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund for the provision of fertilizer to 947 targeted municipalities growing inbred rice; P3 billion for the expanded inbred rice production to support advance planting during wet and dry season in the form of seeds, fertilizer, mechanization, credit and extension; and P3.5 billion on the expanded rice production in areas with good irrigation.
Following a clustering approach, the Integrated Livestock and Corn Resiliency Project will be allotted P1 billion to enable higher production of livestock in corn producing areas. The same amount was also pegged for the Expanded Small Ruminants and Poultry Project to ensure an increase in the production of meat, chicken and eggs.
The Corn for Food Project to intensify production of corn in areas such as Cebu and Cagayan de Oro where it is consumed as food staple will get P300 million while the Coconut-base Diversification Project, which involves the intercropping of vegetables and fruits, and raising small ruminants and poultry under coconut trees will be allotted P1 billion.
The Urban Agriculture Project to be implemented in major urban communities will get P500 million while the Revitalized Gulayan Project will be allotted P1 billion for the implementation of vegetable farms in schools, barangays, public areas and idle private lots.
For fisheries, another P1 billion will be shared by the Urban Aquaphonics Project and the Enhanced Aquaculture and Sustainable Capture Fisheries in Inland Waters.
P3 billion each was earmarked for the provision of financial assistance to farmers affected by the drop in farmgate prices under the Expanded Sure Aid Recovery Project and for the Expanded Agriculture Assistance Project to increase insurance coverage of those growing crops and raising livestock and fisheries.
In addition to the assistance provided by the Department of Labor and Employment and the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the DA also seeks a P3-billion grant for social amelioration to farmers, fishers and farm workers.
A total of P500 million is set for the acquisition of personal protective equipment such as surgical masks and other accessories to protect DA personnel from COVID-19 while another P200 million will be spent for the sustained information, education and communication efforts.
Meanwhile, Rice Watch Action Network Inc. appealed for local governments to look into adding fresh produce and even urban gardening starter kits in the food packs that are being distributed.
