THE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) said it is asking government agencies and corporations to directly procure rice from farmers to support them during a time of weak farmgate prices of palay (unmilled rice).
Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado M. Estrella III said in a statement: “We are appealing to all National Government agencies, including Government-Owned and -Controlled Corporations (GOCCs), to rally behind our farmers and directly procure their rice.”
Mr. Estrella made the appeal at a meeting he convened of officials from various parts of the government, including Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr., Speaker Faustino Dy III, National Food Authority Administrator Larry Lacson, House Committee on Agriculture chair Rep. Mark Enverga, House Agrarian Reform Committee chair Rep. Eleanor Bulut-Begtang, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform chair Senator Francisco Pancratius N. Pangilinan, and local government executives from rice-producing provinces.
The meeting was convened a day ahead of planned protests at the DAR in Quezon City (QC) by rice farmers from Central Luzon, who are saying government has not acted sufficiently to address low farmgate prices.
The “caucus” of officials will submit a recommendation detailing the government procurement plan to the Palace.
This proposed directive aims to create immediate demand for local palay harvests, offer price stability, and ensure government-led support for agriculture.
Mr. Dy was quoted as saying in the statement: “We will continue to push for policies and budget support that ensure fair farmgate prices and national food security.”