President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s administration vowed to intensify its efforts to support local farmers by ensuring fair prices for their rice harvests and addressing concerns over trader exploitation.

In a Malacañang press briefing on Monday, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. addressed concerns that some traders exploit local farmers by buying palay at unreasonably low prices.

He said the Department of Agriculture has identified 32 areas where such practices occur in Luzon and has begun investigating the traders involved.

“We have a list of areas where traders buy rice at very low prices, as low as P13, P14, and P15 per kilo. We are investigating these traders and will send our mobile marketing and procurement teams to these areas during the next harvest season to ensure that farmers are paid fair prices,” Tiu Laurel said.

In response to these issues, the DA is exploring implementing a “floor price” for palay to protect farmers from being underpaid.

“The goal of the floor price is to ensure that farmers are not at risk of losing money. If they are not losing money, they can break even and be encouraged to plant again,” Tiu Laurel explained.

Tiu Laurel also said the DA is investigating reports that some individuals are attempting to exploit the Kadiwa program by falsely claiming to represent senior citizens or other vulnerable groups.

He said that appropriate actions are being taken to improve the integrity of the Kadiwa rice distribution program and ensure the staple reaches the vulnerable sectors as intended.

“We are listing down iyong mga ganoong nagki-claim and we will be counterchecking siguro sa kanilang tahanan at bisitahin sila para makita lang talaga,” Laurel said.

“We really need to dispose and move out our stocks… Maganda ang quality ng bigas para tuluy-tuloy na at least makinabang din ang iba,” he added. | PND