Legazpi City, Aug. 11 -- Albay 3rd District Rep. Raymond Adrian Salceda is pushing for the expansion of the rice farmer financial assistance (RFFA) program to include all rice farmers, regardless of farm size.

He also proposed providing a second tranche of PHP5,000 to small farm holders who have received aid.

In a statement, Salceda, chair of the House Special Committee on Food Security, said the proposal would utilize the PHP2 billion in excess rice tariff revenues available under the Special Provision No. 9 of the 2025 General Appropriations Act.

It could be supplemented with an estimated PHP7 to PHP8 billion in undisbursed RFFA funds from prior years, enabling the government to implement universal coverage without requiring new appr...