Gov’t sets aside P400M to buy typhoon-damaged palay

The government has set aside P400 million to buy damaged palay or unhusked rice from rice-growing areas battered by two recent typhoons, and to cope with the effects of more storms expected this year, Malacañang said Friday night.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the decision was reached following President Aquino’s meeting with Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala and National Food Authority  Administrator Lito Banayo.

Lacierda said P203 million of the amount would be spent to buy rice from farmers in areas affected by Typhoons “Pedring” and “Quiel.”

“The remainder will be set aside for the rest of the year. We expect more storms to come,” Lacierda said in an interview.

The move is seen as a measure to help farmers cope with their losses due to the back-to-back typhoons.