Benise Balaoing

Rice grain yield dries up, becoming inedible, due to heat and lack of water in Barangay Sapang Putik, San Ildefonso, Bulacan on January 15, 2024. The lack of rain and water flowing through for irrigation in some parts of the municipality has left some farmers struggling and requesting for aid. 


Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

Rice grain yield dries up, becoming inedible, due to heat and lack of water in Barangay Sapang Putik, San Ildefonso, Bulacan on January 15, 2024. The lack of rain and water flowing through for irrigation in some parts of the municipality has left some farmers struggling and requesting for aid. 

Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

EL NINO

Agatha Gregorio

ABS-CBN News

MANILA -- Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. hopes to release a floor price for palay before the next harvest season amid reports of prices going as low as P11 per kilogram.The agriculture chief said this will be based on the expenses of farmers, taking into account fertilizers and seeds.&quot;Ang floor price is basically a computation of magkano ba ang naging gastos ng farmer. Let’s say kung sa isang hektarya na ‘yun, kailangan mo ng P30,000— pataba, seeds tsaka— P35,000. So dapat at least maibalik,&quot; he said. &quot;Depende ‘yan sa presyo ng pataba at seeds at ng labor during the particular harvest season.&quot;Tiu Laurel was speaking to reporters after an open discussion with Bulacan farmers at the NFA Bulacan Branch Office in Malolos on Monday, May 25.When asked about the timeline of implementation, Tiu Laurel replied, &quot;Sana mailabas ‘yan before next harvest season.&quot;The wet season harvest is expected around September to October.Tiu Laurel added they are seriously studying the legal avenues to implement the floor price for palay, but the National Food Authority (NFA) would first need its regulatory powers. The DA chief mentioned this after highlighting the need for amendments to the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL).&quot;Seriously na pinag-aaralan natin ngayon sa DA ‘yan at naghahanap kami ng legal avenues para ma-implement ito if possible. But of course, kahit na may floor price ka, ‘di naman kilala, ‘di nakarehistro ‘yung trader. Napaka-importante talaga ‘yung regulatory powers ng NFA,&quot; Tiu Laurel said.In a statement, the DA said the RTL &quot;severely weakened&quot; the NFA&#x27;s ability to keep rice prices and supply stable as it was reduced to a &quot;buffer-stocking agency&quot; that could only buy rice for emergency use.&quot;Ang gusto mas magandang mangyari is puwedeng magbenta ang NFA sa palengke through accredited NFA retail outlets like before, &quot; Tiu Laurel said. &quot;Kailangan din lahat ng retailers at traders kailangan by law ay register sa NFA para ma-control natin at makita dahil sa ngayon, talagang kulang kami sa NFA kung sinu-sino mga ‘to eh. It’s a cat and mouse game.&quot;The DA secretary also said he looks to recommend keeping the tariff on imported rice at 15 percent.&quot;I will not increase for now dahil nga tapos na ‘yung harvest season dito...Kung magtataas man tayo ng tariffs, siguro kung kailan may harvest season nung nagbebenta,&quot; Tiu Laurel told the media.When asked if this will likely be retained by June, Tiu Laurel answered, &quot;Yes.&quot;<div> </div><div>ADDRESSING BULACAN FARMERS&#x27; CONCERNS</div>The DA plans to include in its 2026 budget proposal for the General Appropriations Act (GAA) the distribution of 500 additional trucks for farmers.According to Tiu Laurel, this will be given to specific local government units (LGU) and cooperatives for transport of crops to warehouses.&quot;NFA has purchased 90 trucks this year. 14 dumating na or 16 yata. And for next year, bibili pa sila ng 130 trucks. Pero mayroon kaming ilalagay sa aming GAA na 500 trucks,&quot; he said.He said they are discussing the possibility of giving or assigning the trucks to farmers or cooperatives so their produce can easily be sent to the NFA.The DA chief, however, noted that the trucks could be used even before harvest season for movement of fertilizers and seeds.Tiu Laurel added this could help address issues on overproduction.&quot;Of course, it will address also possible issues sa mga carrots and vegetables natin kasi sobrang vegetables sa isang LGU at a certain time. ‘Di naman harvest season ang bigas natin, palay natin. Puwedeng gamitin ‘yun para i-haul ‘yung mga excess production whether carrots, tomato ‘yan o anuman, or onions sa markets,&quot; Tiu Laurel said.After receiving reports of low prices from traders for palay, Tiu Laurel told farmers they will go around the country to check on the situation in each area.&quot;Hindi naman everyday. Siguro at least every week iikot. Well, number one, ipakita talaga ‘yung situation kasi sinasabi nga ng NFA puno lahat ng warehouses. So we really have to move out as I mentioned.&quot;&quot;Then marami kasing warehouses na under repair pa at matatapos na katulad nito. Actually, hindi pa tapos ‘to. Pero binuksan na namin because nga may clamour na wala nang mapaglagyan,&quot; he said. The NFA in Bulacan is presently buying palay for P24 per kilogram with a P5 incentive per kilogram for those under the Malolos LGU.

Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. hopes to release a floor price for palay before the next harvest season.

Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. hopes to release a floor price for palay before the next harvest season.

DA chief hopes to release palay floor price before next harvest season

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DA chief hopes to release palay floor price before next harvest season

Agatha Gregorio,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 26, 2025 04:28 PM PHT

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