PSA data on buying price of palay far from reality, farmers’ group says

MANILA, Philippines – The farmers’ group Centro Saka asking the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) to review its data on the buying price of palay (unhusked rice) since it is “far from reality.”

“Ang suggestion po namin, yung sinasabi ng PSA, mukhang hindi nagmamatch doon sa reality sa ground. Last night, nagmonitor kami and practically, all over the country, ang pinakamataas is P17 pero outlier yung P17, naiiba siya,” said Centro Saka’s Executive Director Romeo Royandoyan.

“Kaya ang suggestion ko po ganito. Pwede po ba ‘yung PSA, magreview kayo ulit dahil naiiba ‘yung monitoring ng mga farmers namin sa ground. Ang report until last night, nagugulat sila, bakit ang Nueva Ecija, bakit otso lang ‘yung palay?” he continued.

Royandoyan said he is also puzzled by the drop in palay prices after the passage of the Rice Tariffication Law.

“Sabi po ng Philippine Statistics Authority, P17 daw ang average buying price of palay,” said Senator Cynthia Villar, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food during a hearing on the Rice Tariffication Law on Tuesday.

“Yung official data po na nakolekta ng PSA dry (palay) po ito, ay naglalaro ng P16 to P18, national yan. That’s the average,” National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Assistant Secretary Mercedita Sombilla said.

Helping farmers

“Let me just elaborate this point because the objective ng batas natin ay tulungan yung magsasaka. Before the batas, ang presyo ng palay is P20. Noong napasa ang batas, bakit naging dose, otso, nueve?” Royandoyan said.

Royandoyan said the PCAF is willing to help the PSA pinpoint which areas have the most complaints from farmers.

“Paki-review muna yung data ng PSA kasi malayo doon sa reality. Kailangan niyo magreview ulit. Tutulungan namin kayo kung saang area nagrereklamo yung mga farmers,” he said. /gsg