Members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan are considering setting a minimum buying price of ₱17 per kilo for unhusked rice (palay) in Palawan in response to requests from farmers and in line with the plan of the national government.
Board Members Ariston Arzaga and Ryan Maminta said that based on their latest talks with some representatives of rice traders in the province, they reached an agreement and have made proposals to set the floor price of palay at ₱17 per kilo.
“Yung problema natin sa bigas, matagal na natin kino-konsider, nakausap natin yung representatives ng traders. Ang suggestion ng ating farmers, kung pwedemg i-consider na mag-legislate na magkaroon ng farm-gate price yung palay,” Arzaga said.
“Nung una, sinasabi na pwede sa ₱13 pero nung hiniritan natin, amg sabi masyadong mababa kasi ang production cost nasa ₱15 na so ang proposal natin is ₱17 yung labas-thresher na palay,” he explained, noting that he has also sought the opinions of the Office of the Provincial Agriculture, National Food Authority, and the Department of Agriculture.
Maminta added that based on the latest data they gathered, the average production cost of palay in Palawan is not far from the national average of ₱15, and if the buying price is lower, it will not be fair to the farmers.
“At nung tinanong ko yung representative ng traders during our committee meeting last Monday kung katanggap-tanggap ba sa kanila yung ₱17 minimum, ang sabi ay kaya naman,” he stated.
“Maari rin namang i-impose ng provincial government, that’s why may proposal tayo to set the minimum buying price to ₱17. So kung tatanggapin ng traders, pabor na ito sa mga magsasaka,” he added.
The two local lawmakers, however, noted that the ₱17 minimum price is still a proposal and will be subjected to a public hearing, with other factors still to be considered.
“Kasama dyan sa pag-aaral yung value chain (reaction). Kasi pag ₱17, ano naman yung labas sa mga consumer? baka naman maging mas mahal pero kung hindi naman ay ok na yan,” Maminta said.
He further stated that they are also considering the recent executive order issued by President Ferdinand Marcos imposing a ban on the entry of imported rice this September, adding that they might also impose a similar prohibition in the province to ban rice coming from other provinces.
“Actually meron na rin tayong proposal kasi nga sabi ng DA at ng OPA, sa atin dito ay may surprlus tayo na almost 150 percent,” he said.
“So what we should do instead is to repeal the ordinance during pandemic to ship out locally produced rice outside Palawan. Then pati yung imported galing sa ibang lalawigan ay baka pwede nating limitahan ang pagpasok sa Palawan,” he said.
