House Speaker Martin Romualdez called for more support for Filipino farmers and to stop relying on the continued importation of rice.
In a report by RH 12 Milky Rigonan, Romualdez made the call to the information of the United States Department of Agriculture that the Philippines is the number one rice importer in the world.
According to the House Speaker, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr admitted during his speech at the 10th Asia Summit in Singapore that the Philippines should not rely on imports and that the agricultural sector in the country should be developed.
Romualdez added that instead of being dependent on imports, the issues of production, supply, irrigation, technology, and others should be resolved.
Furthermore, he explained that he is in favor of ‘strategic importation’ at a time when the country’s supply is insufficient.
However, he said that this should not be the reason to lower the price of rice from the farmers and ensure the program to secure rice and food sufficiency.
Romualdez also said that Republic Act 11953 would help sweep away the debt of approximately 600,000 farmers.
Executive Order No. 40 extends the moratorium on the payment of farmers’ debts that are not covered by the law for two years.
