AreaPhilippines

Commodity GroupRice

CommodityAll

Date27/03/2020

Policy CategoryProduction

Policy InstrumentProduction support, credit, crop insurance, Government procurement

DescriptionA budget of PHP 31 billion (USD 614 million) approved by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to bolster local food production under the Ahon Lahat, Pagkaing Sapat Kontra COVID-19 (ALPAS or "Plant, Plant, Plant") Program. The program contemplates destining PHP 8.5 billion (USD 168 million) to implement a Rice Resiliency Project, under which rice producers would be provided with seeds, fertilizers and technical assistance to raise output during the 2020/21 main-crop cycle. A separate PHP 7 billion (USD 139 million) would be set aside for the National Food Authority to purchase local paddy and PHP 3 billion (USD 59 million) to provide rice farmers with interest-free loans under the Expanded Survival and Recovery Assistance Program for Rice Farmers (SURE Aid) Program. Among other measures, additional funds would go to strengthen insurance coverage, urban agriculture and assist marketing of supplies at affordable prices.

NotesExchange rate as of 15 May 2020.