House of Representatives vowed to approve the P66-billion supplemental budget sought by the Department of Agriculture (DA) to aid the agriculture and fisheries sectors overcome the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In regular session, the chamber passed Resolution No. 925 expressing the commitment “to enact the proposed P66-billion supplemental budget of the DA to support its programs in addressing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the areas of food and nutrition, security and price stability.”
The measure was necessary because of the effects of the pandemic and to secure food security. Also, the House heeded the call of President Duterte for a stimulus package for Philippine farms amid the pandemic.
While the resolution was authored by Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, Majority Leader Martin Ferdinand Romualdez, Deputy Speaker LRay Villafuerte Jr. and Reps. Lucy Torres-Gomez of Leyte and Florida Robes of Bulacan.
It was passed by the House after President Duterte, in his 5th State of the Nation Address (SONA), pushed for the DA’s “Plant, Plant, Plant” program and sought congressional approval of the P66-billion agricultural stimulus package that will help the agriculture and fisheries sector recover from the crisis.
It also seeks to allocate P20 billion for DA’s Food Logistics Plan to ensure that agricultural commodities are accessible and affordable; and P15 billion for the Cash-for-Work Program to assist landless farmers and displaced workers.
Sources: philstar.com, wikipedia.com
Photo Sources: cnn.ph, smile.cebupacificair.com
