PRESIDENT Duterte has ordered the suspension of the importation of rice during the country’s harvest season, saying the produce of local farmers should be purchased for the meantime.
The President said he would ask Congress to allocate funds to buy “palay” (unhusked rice) from local farmers, adding it does not matter if the government will spend billions just to improve their plight.
Duterte issued the directive after farmers complained about the drop in palay prices as the rice tarrification law paved the way for the entry of cheap rice imports into the country.
“Yes. Because it is harvest time,” the President said during a press conference in Malacañang late Tuesday night, when asked if he was ordering Agriculture Secretary William Dar to suspend rice importation.
“Sabihin ko kay Dar and Congress, ‘You appropriate money and we will buy all the rice, farmgate price ng ating farmers,’” he said.
Duterte maintained that the government is ready to lose money in order to uplift the conditions of farmers.
“Kung gusto talaga natin, walang problema, bilihin lahat ng produce ng producer – farmers. Bilihin. Ngayon, mahal farmgate nila. Babawi sila. Hindi na bale. Gagastos tayo bilyon? Bilihin natin. Tapos wala, palugi tayo para ‘yung mga farmers may resulta sa pawis nila,” he added.
“Ilang bilyon? Three billion? Lugi tayo ng three billion. Bakit? Para ang farmers mabuhay. Kaninong gastos? Gastos natin lahat,” he added.
As soon as the harvest season ends, the President conceded that rice importation must continue to boost the country’s buffer stocks. He said local rice production was not enough to meet the needs of the country’s growing population.
“Bilihin natin lahat ‘yan tapos dagdagan natin kasi kulang talaga but we will add because it will not be enough,” he said. (Genalyn Kabiling)
