Heeding the rising call for food stability amid the COVID-19 situation, the Department of Agriculture (DA) continues to push for their project “Ahon Lahat, Pagkaing Sapat (ALPAS) Kontra sa COVID-19” or ALPAS COVID-19.

As its recent development, the proposed P31 billion supplemental budget successfully received approval from the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID). It will be succeedingly sent to President Duterte for his consideration and approval.

Also known as the “Plant, Plant, Plant Program”, ALPAS COVID-19 aims to cover agriculture and fishery-related concerns for both producers and consumers. Its budget breakdown includes the following:

P7.5B – rice resiliency project;
P7B – palay procurement fund of the National Food Authority;
P3B – expanded SURE Aid and recovery project;
P3B – expanded agriculture insurance project;
P3B – social amelioration for farmers and farm workers;
P1B – upscaling of Katuwang sa Diwa at Gawa para sa Masaganang Ani at Mataas na Kita (KADIWA ni Ani at Kita);
P1B – integrated livestock and corn resiliency project;
P1B – expanded small ruminants and poultry project;
P1B – coconut-based diversification project;
P1B – fisheries resiliency project;
P1B – revitalized gulayan project;
P500M – urban agriculture project;
P500M – acquisition of protective personal equipment for DA personnel;
P300M – corn for food project; and
P200M – information, education and communications project.

“The Task Force also reiterated that farmers, fishers and workers in agri-fishery production, processing and manufacturing enterprises, including those involved in the entire food value chain are exempted from the curfew imposed in observance of the enhanced community quarantine,” DA Secretary William Dar said.

Additionally, part of the three billion peso-fund under the expanded Survival and Recovery Assistance Program for Rice Farmers (SURE Aid) and recovery project will be used to grant financial assistance and interest-free loans to farmers who were affected by the drop in palay prices.

Meanwhile, the one billion peso-fund for the upscaling of the project Katuwang sa Diwa at Gawa para sa Masaganang Ani at Mataas na Kita (KADIWA ni Ani at Kita) will include production monitoring, provincial services on wheels, transportation and trucking services of produce from source to the Metropolis and the provision for KADIWA on wheels.

Currently, KADIWA ni Ani at Kita is providing direct access to affordable agricultural products from provinces to local government units and individuals in Metro Manila.

In addition to the P31 billion budget for ALPAS COVID-19, IATF-EID also approved the reactivation of the Local Price Coordination Councils or LPCCs. These councils will be tasked to monitor food supply and prices, as well as help in implementing suggested retail prices.

With the measures that ALPAS COVID-19 lays out to ensure food security, the agriculture department hopes to ease the worries of the agricultural sector and fear of the citizens during the ongoing enhanced community quarantine.

Header photo from Nino Jesus Orbeta for Inquirer

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