The
Department of Agriculture (DA) urges
individual farmers to enlist in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in
Agriculture (RSBSA) and join organizations to access agriculture-related
programs and services including the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund
(RCEF).
Under the Rice Tariffication
Law (RA 11203), eligible RCEF beneficiaries include farmers, farmworkers, and
their dependents who are listed in the RSBSA—an electronic database containing
basic information of farmers and fisherfolks, and members of DA-accredited
farmer organizations (FOs) such as multipurpose cooperatives, irrigators’
associations, and people’s organizations. Farmers who are already enlisted in
the DA-updated RSBSA will be prioritized this 2019 dry season. Meanwhile, those
who have just registered will be included in the seed distribution in the
succeeding planting season.
“The program does not only
aim to reduce the cost of production and increase farmers’ yields, but it also
intends to strengthen FOs through agro-enterprise and collective activities. We
are partnering with local government units so they can guide the farmers on
RSBSA registration and membership to existing or formation of new FOs,” the DA
said.
The municipal government of
Sta. Ignacia, Tarlac and the Municipal Agriculture and Fishery Council helped
farmers in their area complete the requirements in time for the RCEF-seed
support to be given by October this year.
“We met with the
farmer-leaders of the different organizations and cooperatives in Sta. Ignacia
so we can identify strategies on obtaining the documents needed for the FO
accreditation and thoroughly update the municipal’s RSBSA master list. We hope
that every eligible farmer in our locality will receive support so we can
simultaneously progress,” James Ocampo, Sta. Ignacia MAFC chairperson said.
To register in the RSBSA,
individuals must be 18 years old at the time of registration, a Filipino
citizen, and must be a farmer, farm laborer/worker. They must also fill up the
RSBSA form which can be acquired through their city or municipal agriculture
office or online through the DA website.
Aside from the form,
registrants must also present one original and photocopy of any valid
identification cards such as SSS/GSIS UMID card, postal ID, TIN card, passport,
PRC ID, OWWA/iDOLE card, voter’s ID or certification from the election officer
with dry seal, PNP firearms license, senior citizen ID, or valid school ID for
students.
For registrants without valid
ID, a duly signed barangay certification containing his/her permanent residence
may be secured. They must also present proof of farming activity such as
evidence of land ownership (land title/ certificate of land ownership/ deed of
donation/ lease of agreement), municipal/city/ barangay business permit, or
geo-tagged photos of their farm, if possible.
Mr. Ocampo
affirmed that these requirements are means to ensure that the right people will
benefit from the program.
“Getting enlisted in the
RSBSA and accredited by the DA would mean that the recipients of the program
are legitimate farmers. We can avoid [political] entities from interfering in
RCEF, and we can be sure that there is equal distribution of the resources,” he
said.
He also added that the
accreditation provides easy access for the farmers and their groups to become
partners of the department in its agriculture-related initiatives. This,
according to Mr. Ocampo, brings confidence to the farmers that they will not be
left out.
Created through RA 11203,
RCEF is a new government program, which aims to help farmers through the
P10B-fund covering seed, machine, credit, and extension support to improve the
competitiveness of the Filipino rice farmers.
For more information about
the processes, please call or text the Farmers’ Contact Center at
0920-946-2474.
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