DA, Palace warn traders: No lowering farm buys due to BBM Na

The Department of Agriculture (DA) and Malacañang warned rice traders against using the government’s 'Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) Na' program as justification for reducing their buying prices from farmers.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said reports have reached the DA that some traders are citing the PHP20 per kg BBM Na program to buy palay at unfairly low prices, urging farmers to report any abusive practices directly to the DA, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), or the Department of Justice (DOJ).

SINAG has flagged farm gate prices in Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, and Pangasinan as low as PHP8-12 per kg of palay, below the production cost of PHP13/kg.

Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa clarified that the National Food Authority (NFA) purchases palay at PHP19 to PHP24 per kg and emphasized that traders should not use this as a reason to lower their buying prices from farmers.

Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. ordered the NFA to assess areas with low trader prices for possible intervention if there is abuse or violation, while Castro assured farmers that the administration will take legal action against abusive traders.

Farmers are encouraged to report unscrupulous traders without fear as these actions could be considered economic sabotage under existing laws.