Manila: National Food Authority (NFA) Administrator Larry Lacson has directed immediate action to purchase palay (unhusked rice) in regions where traders are offering farmers significantly low prices. This move aims to protect farmers during the peak dry harvest season, as the Department of Agriculture (DA) investigates allegations of traders exploiting local rice farmers with prices falling below PHP15 per kilogram.

According to Philippines News Agency, the lowest reported buying price by traders as of April 30 was in Bataan at PHP13.50 per kg. Other regions experiencing similar low prices include Cagayan, Allacapan, Kalinga, Nueva Vizcaya, Ifugao, and Quirino in Cagayan Valley; Compostela Valley in Southern Mindanao; and Sultan Kudarat in Central Mindanao. NFA Administrator Lacson communicated via Viber that efforts are being made to secure the remaining harvest in these affected areas. Regional personnel have been instructed to purchase palay directly from farmers, as demonstrated by recent actions in Aurora.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel has pledged to prioritize these affected regions in the NFA's procurement strategy for the upcoming wet season harvest. This commitment aligns with the ongoing efforts to stabilize prices and support local farmers.

Lacson also highlighted a significant increase in palay procurement under the Marcos administration, marking a five-year high. This initiative is part of a broader goal to establish a 15-day national rice buffer stock to ensure food security during calamities and natural disasters. Since January, the NFA has purchased 4 million bags of palay, contributing to a current buffer stock of 409,000 metric tons, equivalent to 8.19 million bags of milled rice. This stockpile is projected to sustain the country's rice needs for 10.7 days.