Nueva ecija: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has assured farmers that the National Food Authority (NFA) will not reduce the buying price of palay even as the government continues its PHP20 per kilogram rice program. Addressing concerns during a dialogue with this year's Gawad Saka awardees in Nueva Ecija, Marcos emphasized that farmers' income remains a top priority of his administration.

According to Philippines News Agency, the President stated that the current price range of palay-PHP19 to PHP23 per kilogram for dry palay and PHP18 per kilogram for wet palay-will be maintained. Marcos reassured the farmers, saying, "Kahit anong presyo ang pagbenta natin ng bigas sa palengke, hindi magbabago ang buying price ng palay ng NFA. Hindi namin ibababa ang buying price (No matter the price of rice in the market, the NFA's buying price for palay will not change. We will not lower it)."

The PHP20 per kilogram rice program, a fulfillment of the President's campaign promise, is targeted toward the vulnerable sector, including low-income families, senior citizens, solo parents, and persons with disabilities. In addition to palay procurement, Marcos mentioned that the government would expand support to cover major farming inputs.

He highlighted that the Department of Agriculture (DA) would shoulder bulk procurement of essential supplies such as fertilizers and pesticides to help reduce production costs. Marcos also mentioned the ongoing rollout of mobile soil laboratories that will assist farmers in applying the right type and amount of fertilizer, further reducing costs and improving yields.

Furthermore, the President noted that the NFA is resuming its core mandate of buying rice and corn from local producers at fair prices. Marcos affirmed the government's commitment to ensuring that the purchasing price and farming inputs are sufficient so that farmers can feed their families and send their children to school, stating, "Yan lang naman ang hangarin natin (That's our only goal)."