By Brian Campued
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Saturday issued two Executive Orders (EO) to protect farmers and fisherfolk as well as boost local production, in line with the administration’s goal to attain food security.
Under the EO No. 100, the Department of Agriculture (D.A.) will be tasked to determine, set, and adjust the floor price for palay to be purchased by the government through “trigger mechanisms”—production costs, prevailing market conditions, farmers’ welfare, while also balancing consumer affordability.
The floor price for palay could also be implemented when there are emergencies or calamities affecting the supply chain and production; Influx of import arrivals that could dampen farmgate prices; sharp decline in global prices that may impact the estimated landed cost of rice; and the government’s capacity to purchase palay at competitive prices and manage market intervention.
In his EO, the President said the move aims to shield farmers from unfairly low farmgrate prices and market volatility, particularly during harvest seasons when prices tend to fall due to oversupply, weather-related impacts, or unfair trading practices.
“In view of the rising production costs coupled with climate-induced production risk and the widening profit margin gap between farmgate price and retail prices, the government recognizes the urgent need to guarantee a fair and just return to farmers by setting a floor price that covers production costs and provides reasonable income while ensuring the affordability and stability of rice supply for consumers,” the EO 100 stated.
The Order likewise creates a Steering Committee to be chaired by the D.A. and co-chaired by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to assist in establishing the floor price. Other members of the committee include the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and the National Food Authority (NFA).
Moreover, the EO allows government agencies and local government units (LGUs) to use public facilities such as covered courts or multipurpose halls as temporary palay storage sites when warehouses are unavailable.
Uplifting the lives of farmers, fisherfolk
Marcos also signed EO 101 ordering the full implementation of Republic Act (RA) 11321 or the Sagip Saka Act, which establishes a program for farmers and fisherfolk aimed at increasing productivity and improving their quality of life.
Signed into law in 2019, RA 11321 aims to empower local farmers and fisherfolk by integrating them into value chains, enhancing productivity and promoting local procurement.
Under the EO 101, all national government agencies (NGAs), government-owned or -controlled corporations (GOCCs), and state universities and colleges (SUCs) are directed to align their programs, activities, and projects with the objectives of the Sagip Saka Act while local government units (LGUs) are also enjoined to support the implementation of the law.
The EO mandates the adoption of measures supporting farmers and fisherfolk, including capacity building, market access, enterprise support, and the promotion of sustainable livelihoods for small agricultural producers.
It also orders all government entities to directly purchase agricultural and fishery products from accredited farmers and fisherfolk cooperatives and enterprises (FFCEs).
“Said procurement shall be exempted from the application of the bidding process, subject to negotiated procurement prescribed under RA No. 12009 or the New Government Procurement Act and other existing laws, rules and regulations,” the EO read.
To further support local farmers and fisherfolk, government agencies are encouraged to ensure that rice and other agricultural and fishery products served in government events, food service areas, or canteens are directly purchased from FFCEs.
The D.A. is likewise directed to establish “Sagip Saka” desks in its regional and field offices to serve as hubs for information, assistance, and coordination.
-jpv
