Manila: Malaca±ang on Tuesday urged local farmers to seek local government units' (LGUs) assistance for the direct selling of their palay (unhusked rice) to the National Food Authority (NFA). This call comes amid clarifications from Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro regarding the reasons behind the decline in palay prices.

According to Philippines News Agency, Undersecretary Castro clarified that the significant drop in palay prices is not due to rice imports but rather a decrease in rice prices overall. "Based on the records, our imports are low. And it is not true that this is the reason, the decrease in purchases from farmers is the decrease in the price of rice, not because of imports," Castro explained.

Castro recommended that farmers work closely with their respective LGUs to facilitate the delivery of palay to NFA buying stations. "Our recommendation would be for the farmers to coordinate with the local government units first, so that this can be brought to the NFA buying station," she said.

Currently, the NFA's buying price for dry palay is set at PHP23 to PHP24 per kg. To further assist farmers, the government is planning to purchase trucks to aid in the direct buying process. Castro acknowledged the logistical challenges faced by farmers, stating, "The only problem is that our farmers probably don't have a vehicle."

She further mentioned that the government is in the process of procuring trucks, with the bidding process already underway, which will help farmers in selling their rice to the NFA without transportation difficulties.

The Department of Agriculture has also allocated an additional PHP10 billion for the rehabilitation of NFA warehouses and the procurement of unhusked rice, aiming to support the agricultural sector further.