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Politics

PANGILINAN: ISSUE EO TO SET PALAY FLOOR PRICE

Senator Kiko Pangilinan called for the issuance of an executive order (EO) to establish a floor price for palay (unmilled rice).  This measure would apply to all government purchases and align with the full implementation of the Sagip Saka Act (Republic Act No. 11321), to ensure that farmers receive fair compensation for their hard work, […]

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Politics

DY TO GOV’T: RESTORE 35% TARIFF ON IMPORTED RICE

Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III on Monday appealed to the government’s economic managers to restore the 35% tariff on imported rice to protect Filipino farmers and strengthen the country’s rice industry. “May I reiterate na kung maaari lang na ibalik natin ang 35% na taripa? Please,” Dy said during the joint hearing of the House […]

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Politics

DY: 1M RICE FARMERS TO EACH GET ₱7K IN CASH AID

Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III on Monday announced that one million rice farmers will each receive ₱7,000 in direct cash assistance under the 2026 national budget as part of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s expanded support for the agriculture sector. Speaking at the joint hearing of the House Committee on Agriculture and Food chaired by […]

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Politics

AGRI: LIMIT FOOD SECURITY EMERGENCY TO 3 MONTHS

AGRI Party-list Representative Manoy Wilbert Lee is calling on the Department of Agriculture (DA) to effectively implement food security emergency for a maximum of three months and prioritize purchasing rice from local farmers to replenish the National Food Authority’s (NFA) buffer stock, which was released following the government’s declaration of a food security emergency. According […]

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Government

DA CHIEF WANTS ‘UNBRANDED’ IMPORTED RICE

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has announced plans to remove brand labels from imported rice, citing concerns that some industry players are manipulating the system to inflate prices and exploit Filipino consumers. “After conducting a series of market visits, we now have reason to believe that some retailers and traders are intentionally confusing Filipino […]

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Politics

VILLAFUERTE LAUDS MASAGANA PROGRAM ‘OVERHAUL’

National Unity Party (NUP) president LRay Villafuerte has welcomed a Department of Agriculture (DA) plan to “recalibrate” its Masagana Rice Industry Development Program (MRIDP) to further boost palay harvests,  as he proposed to Secretary Francis Tiu Laurel to consider a game-changing subsidy-cum-contract-growing idea that will let government sell the staple at P20 per kilogram (kg) to […]

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Government

1,000 FARMERS TO BENEFIT FROM NEW PIDDIG RICE MILL

The Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) recently inaugurated a P56.5 million rice mill designed to help 1,000 farmers in Piddig, Ilocos Norte, increase their income by as much as 30 percent. PhilMech director Dionisio Alvindia said the state-of-the-art multi-stage rice mill is part of the P71 million worth of postharvest facilities turned […]

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Politics

RESTORE NFA POWER TO BUY RICE FROM FARMERS – LEE

In the House deliberations on amending Republic Act No. 11023 or the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL), AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee has reiterated his call to restore the National Food Authority’s (NFA) power to buy palay from local farmers which would be sold at a cheaper price in the market for as low as […]

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Politics

LEE WELCOMES NFA’S HIGHER PALAY BUYING PRICE

AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee lauded the recent approval of the National Food Authority (NFA) Council to buy local palay for a higher price to beef up the country’s rice buffer stock. According to the NFA Council, the approved increase in the procurement price of rice will give them flexibility to compete with private […]

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Politics

LEE TO PBBM: TAKE OVER NFA, PURGE CORRUPT EXECS

AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee on Wednesday urged President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to take over the management of the National Food Authority (NFA) amid the alleged anomalous sale of the government’s rice buffer stocks by the agency. At the Kapihan sa Manila Bay news forum earlier today, Lee said: “Kailangan nang i-take-over ni […]