Policies which ensure that locally-grown rice grains are prioritized, instead of imported variants, are part of the House of Representatives’ goal, Speaker Faustino ‘Bojie’ Dy III said on Wednesday.
In a statement, Dy said he made this commitment to farmers from Nueva Ecija and Isabela provinces who visited him on Tuesday – including former Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael Mariano – to discuss proposals for improved crop insurance and livelihood support programs.
Dy, a former governor of Isabela, said that the House’s doors will always be open to the agricultural sector and other marginalized groups.
‘Congress is always open for you. The doors of the House are not only for lawmakers but for people who breathe life to our country – our farmers,’ he said speaking in Filipino.
‘We need to thoroughly discuss and revisit the law,’ he added, referring to Republic Act No. 11203 or the Rice Tariffication Law. ‘What we want is to give back the control over importation to the Department of Agriculture, and to give priority to the purchase of local grains before we allow importation. Let us prioritize our own produce before the imported.’
According to Dy, in Isabela, rice farmers contribute a lot not only for food security purposes, but also for the province’s economy – which is why initiatives under his watch will focus on the agricultural industry.
‘What gives life to the province of Isabela is our hardworking rice farmers. That’s why we hold them in high regard and give our utmost respect. We always respond to their needs and challenges – from land, water, and even their livelihood,’ he said in Filipino.
‘Our programs in Isabela are not only geared towards production, but also the future of farming families. That is what we want to push for at a national level – a system that acknowledges, protects, and helps our farmers,’ he said.
On Tuesday, Dy told the agricultural sector that the chamber under his leadership will back a better crop insurance system, aside from the provision of zero interest loans for farmers.
Dy reiterated the stance he made during the joint hearing of the House committee on agriculture and food and the committee on ways and means on Monday – that reforms in crop insurance and government lending programs will ensure ‘long-term stability in the agriculture sector.’
Dy attended the hearing on the rice importation moratorium, announcing on the onset that at least one million rice farmers will get a P7,000 cash aid for 2026, with an allocation reserved under the proposed 2026 national budget.
The Speaker said this after saying that the Department of Agriculture (DA) needs to implement systems properly so that the country would not be reliant on importation.
However, a farmer from Nueva Ecija told the committees that what they need is higher buying prices of palay and not another wave of cash assistance, saying that the practice of providing aid makes it seem that they are beggars.
According to Danilo Bolos, they would not need the P7,000 cash aid pushed by the Speaker if the government addresses extremely low buying prices for palay – ranging from P8 to P10 per kilogram.
Bolos said they are forced to dig into their savings or ask for loans since they have invested at least P14 to P15 per kilogram, only for palay to be bought at low prices.
After Bolos aired his sentiments, Dy assured him and other farmers that they think highly of workers in the agricultural sector, and that the aid is just a manifestation of the government’s yearning to support farmers.
Aside from support for farmers, Dy said that part of the discussions between him and farmers were the infrastructure projects for Northern and Central Luzon – particularly road projects that would connect these regions to Metro Manila.
‘That has been our lifelong dream. If that pushes through, it will be a big convenience for farmers transporting their products. Isabela’s contribution accounts for 15 to 18 percent of Metro Manila’s consumptiona,’ he said in Filipino.