MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday urged local government units (LGUs) to purchase palay (unhusked rice) from local farmers to boost their profit and ensure the country’s sufficient supply of rice.
Marcos made the call during a meeting with officials from the Department of Agriculture, National Irrigation Administration, and National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) at Malacañang.
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“I’m also calling on our LGUs to buy palay directly from our farmers. This way, our farmers receive fair prices for their hard work, and we can secure a steady supply of rice for everyone,” Marcos said in a Facebook post.
Furthermore, the president said he tasked the Department of Finance and Neda to look into the rising input costs and climate impacts that affect food prices.
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“This is a united effort to support our farmers and keep rice prices within reach for every Filipino family,” he said.
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The recent torrential rains and flooding brought by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine resulted in over P3.7 billion worth of damage to the agriculture sector.