SEN. Cynthia A. Villar on Monday said she would directly complain to President Duterte if the National Food Authority (NFA) fails to do its job of buying palay from local farmers amid falling farm-gate prices in provinces.
Villar, who chairs the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, issued the warning to NFA Administrator Judy Carol Dansal during the Department of Agriculture’s budget hearing.
“Kapag hindi sila namili at hindi nila pinagbili, pupunta na ako kay Presidente. Kasi kami palagi ang nai-isyuhan tungkol sa hindi nila pamimili ng rice. Sasabihin ko sa Presidente. [If they will not buy (palay) and will not sell (rice), I will go to the President. Because we are always blamed every time the NFA doesn’t buy rice. I will report that to the President],” she told reporters in an interview.
Villar raised the issue about NFA’s procurement program
and market participation anew as senators did their initial review of the
proposed 2020 budget of the Department of Agriculture. The hearing was also
attended by the grains agency’s
administrator.
“They should sell their stocks in the market so they could roll over their funds. Especially now that the harvest season is near, they should buy rice from local farmers,” Villar said.
“Because that is their mandate, to buy rice from the local farmers and sell it to the Filipino consumers at reasonable price,” she added.
Villar noted that if the NFA would not be successful in fulfilling its mandate, local government units have committed to procure palay produced by their respective farmers.
“The LandBank said they have lent to 30 governors, who will buy rice for their use and to help also the farmers. LandBank would provide them loans with 2-percent interest. They just have to pawn their IRA [internal revenue allotment],” Villar said.
Image credits: Nonie Reyes