A LAWMAKER on Tuesday asked the House Committee on Appropriations to provide an additional P521 million to the Department of Agriculture’s 2023 budget for the upgrade of its database management system for a more efficient delivery of aid and services to farmers and fisherfolk.
“It is crucial that farmers and fisherfolk to register to the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) so they can access DA’s services,” AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee said in a letter to the committee.
The RSBSA is a digital system that includes profiles of farmers and fisherfolk and geo-referencing of agricultural lands.
Mr. Lee said the increased funding will be used to fully integrate the RSBSA with other government agencies for data harmonization.
Mr. Lee said farmers have complained about erroneous information in the RSBSA as well as the lengthy registration process.
“Fixing the RSBSA will be essential in ensuring that farmers and fisherfolk, even from the most remote regions of our country get the assistance they need especially during these trying times,” he said.
Mr. Lee also asked for an additional P300 million to fund the continuation of the KADIWA ni ANI at KITA and the Enhanced KADIWA 2: Marketing Logistics Support programs of the Agriculture department.
The DA has a proposed 2023 budget of P102.155 billion, 49% higher than this year’s budget. — Matthew Carl L. Montecillo