(Photo courtesy of DA-COMMS) MANILA - The Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) contributed largely to the Philippines' food security amid the Covid-19 pandemic, an official of the Department of Agriculture (DA) said Thursday. Deputy Executive Director of DA's Philippine Rice Research Institute Dr. Flordeliza Bordey said through the DA's RCEF, a program created by the Rice Tariffication Law, the total palay (unhusked rice) production recorded a consistent high since it was implemented in September 2019. "Our total palay output only increased through the years since the implementation of RCEF. I must say that this has largely contributed to the country's food security at this time of pandemic," Bordey said. Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that palay production in 2018 was recorded at 19.07 million metric tons (MMT). This was higher by 5.1 percent from the 18.15 MMT in 2015 and 8.2 percent from the 2016 level. However, it was lower by