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Bam Aquino says government should purchase 'storm-damaged' rice

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/09/18/20180918-rice.jpg?ext=.jpg"/><figcaption>Locals dry palay among toppled electrical posts in Gonzaga town, Cagayan a day after Typhoon Ompong devastated northern Luzon, September 16, 2018. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA - The government should buy &quot;storm-damaged&quot; rice from areas devastated by Typhoon Ompong to help farmers, Senator Bam Aquino said Tuesday.In a statement, Aquino said President Rodrigo Duterte should urge the National Food Authority (NFA) to buy rice damaged during the typhoon, saying this has been done before. In 2016, the government under the administration of the senator&#x27;s cousin then President Benigno Aquino III bought storm-damaged rice from farmers in Cagayan, Ilocos, and Central Luzon after the regions were ravaged by Typhoon Lawin.Doing this again would give farmers a chance to recoup their capital used for purchasing rice seeds, fertilizer and other inputs, the senator said.Typhoon Ompong barreled across Northern Luzon over the weekend, leaving behind some <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/09/17/18/ompong-causes-p14-b-damage-to-agriculture-says-piol">P14 billion in damage</a> to farm output and infrastructure, government figures showed.As of September 18, damage to rice crops was estimated at P8.97 billion, the Department of Agriculture said.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/09/17/18/ompong-causes-p14-b-damage-to-agriculture-says-piol">Ompong causes P14-B damage to agriculture, says Piñol</a></li></ul>Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque earlier said P1.7 billion was earmarked for food packs and relief assistance for those affected by the typhoon. The government has yet to disclose how much would be allotted for efforts to help the agricultural sector in affected provinces.

The government should buy "storm-damaged" paddy rice from areas devastated by Typhoon Ompong to help farmers, Senator Bam Aquino said Tuesday.

The government should buy "storm-damaged" paddy rice from areas devastated by Typhoon Ompong to help farmers, Senator Bam Aquino said Tuesday.