Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan is asking the Department of Agriculture (DA) and National Food Authority (NFA) to show exactly how they will buy rice directly from farmers during the coming harvest season.
Pangilinan, chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform, said farmers need more than government help in planting and harvesting. They also need to know that someone will buy their palay.
“Bukod sa pagtulong sa ating mga magsasaka sa pagtatanim at pag-aani, dapat din nating siguraduhin na may bibili ng kanilang mga tanim na palay. Diyan dapat maging konkreto ang plano ng DA, NFA, at iba pang ahensya ng gobyerno,” he said.
Pangilinan wants the DA and NFA to submit a report for every rice-producing province showing how much rice they are ready to buy, how much money is available and how quickly farmers can be paid.
“Ang tanong ng bawat magsasaka sa panahon ng anihan: Saan ako magdadala ng palay? Magkano bibilhin ang ani ko? May pondo ba? Kailan kaya ako mababayaran?” he said.
The senator also wants the report to show the available facilities for receiving, drying and storing palay, as well as the actual purchases made by the government compared with its targets.
Pangilinan said the government should make better use of the Sagip Saka Act, which allows government agencies and local governments to directly buy agricultural products from farmers and fisherfolk without going through public bidding.
“Ang tunay na food security ay hindi lang sapat ang supply. Dapat kumikita rin ang magsasaka na siyang gumagawa ng supply na ’yan,” he said.IMT
