MANILA, Philippines—Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. on Thursday called on critics to offer alternative solutions instead of undermining the Department of Agriculture's (DA) efforts.
Tiu Laurel addressed "self-styled farm leaders" who criticized the agency's planned expansion of the P20 per kilogram rice initiative to smallholder farmers.
The initiative, set to begin on August 13, will allow millions of rice farmers and farmworkers to buy up to 10 kilograms of rice per month at a subsidized price of P20/kg.
They can also buy 50-kilogram sacks of rice between August and December.
Qualified for the program are farmers who till no more than three hectares of land and registered under the DA's Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture.
Tiu Laurel defended the program as a step towards food security.
“We’re offering affordable food to those who need it most,” he said. “No one is being forced to avail of it. We’re simply trying to make life a little less difficult for the people who feed this country. This is one step—just one—toward greater food security.” Critics said the program is a temporary solution that will not address the fundamental issues in the sector, Tiu Laurel responded that long-term reforms, such as increasing import tariffs and suspending rice imports are also being discussed by the agency.
He acknowledged that the National Food Authority's (NFA) lack of regulatory functions also leads to a lack of reliable data that slows down policy changes.
“Without accurate, timely data, we risk making policy in the dark,” he said.
He urged critics to offer solutions instead of undermining the DA's efforts.
“We listen to the people with their boots in the mud—the farmers who work the land—not to armchair critics who offer no real solutions,” he said.
“If you truly care about the sector, offer ideas. Help us build. Don’t just tear down,” Tiu Laurel said.
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