President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has assured rice farmers that the government will provide assistance to those hit by falling palay prices, including possible safeguard duties on rice imports to protect local producers.
Speaking during a dialogue with farmers in Claveria, Cagayan, after inaugurating the Union Water Impounding Dam, Marcos Jr. said the National Food Authority (NFA) will expand its palay buying program to offer better prices than private traders, who sometimes buy as low as P8 per kilo.
The NFA currently buys fresh/wet palay at P18–P19 per kilo and dry palay at P21–P23.
“Kaya’t palalawakin natin ito at maglalagay din tayo doon sa mga tinamaan sa pagbaba ng presyo ng palay, magbibigay din tayo ng direct na tulong para sa ating mga magsasaka,” he said, adding that farmers who incurred losses may receive P10,000 each in financial assistance.
To prevent local rice prices from crashing further, the President said the government is also preparing to impose safeguard duties on rice imports.
“Maglalagay tayo ng safeguard duties para sa importasyon para sa pag-import ay hindi masisira naman ang presyo dito sa atin. Dahil ang nagdidikta ng presyo ng bigas ay ‘yung imported rice,” he said.
Marcos Jr. reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to support farmers. “Alam naman po namin na hindi naman po madali ang buhay ng ating mga magsasaka at kaya’t lahat ng suporta na kaya naming ibigay ay binibigay natin dahil patitibayin natin.”IMT
