Palace to rice farmers: Report traders exploiting palay prices

Malacañang has urged rice farmers to report traders who are taking advantage of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Benteng Bigas Meron Na program by purchasing palay at unfairly low prices.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said farmers can file complaints with the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), or the Department of Justice (DOJ).

“Sa mga farmers natin, sa mga magsasaka natin, huwag po kayong matakot,” she said.

“Basta lamang kumpletuhin ninyo ang inyong mga ebidensiya hangga’t maaari, para po ito ay maging dahilan sa amin para sila ay habulin at idemanda. Maaari po kasi itong maging kaso na economic sabotage,” Castro added.

She was responding to concerns that as the rice subsidy program expands, more traders might exploit it to justify lower buying prices for palay. 

Castro dismissed the claim, citing DA’s clarification that the National Food Authority is actually buying more palay and not depressing market prices.

In May, the DA identified 32 areas in Luzon where such practices had been reported. It is now considering a palay “floor price” to protect farmers from being shortchanged.IMT