Zubiri files ‘Mandatory Palay Purchase’ bill

Zubiri said he filed the bill because of the plummeting price of palay to levels way below the cost of production, despite the efforts made by the government to protect the local rice industry. (File Photo: Shalitha Dissanayaka/Unsplash)

MANILA — Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri has filed a measure mandating the government to directly purchase palay (unhusked rice) from local farmers to address the plight of farmers affected by the Rice Tariffication Law.

Senate Bill No. 1199, or the “Mandatory Palay Purchase Act,” mandates the Department of Social Welfare And Development (DSWD), in coordination with the National Food Authority (NFA), to buy palay from local farmers and distribute rice subsidy in the form of actual rice, instead of cash assistance to qualified beneficiaries.

Zubiri said he filed the bill because of the plummeting price of palay to levels way below the cost of production, despite the efforts made by the government to protect the local rice industry.

“The government must provide a mechanism to help the farmers by purchasing the produce of farmers,” he said.

The Senate leader noted that at present, the DSWD grants Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4PS) beneficiaries rice subsidy in the form of financial assistance amounting to PHP600 per month, or equivalent to 20 kilos of rice.

The lawmaker pointed out that DSWD currently has at least PHP6.97 billion of undisbursed appropriation under this program.

“Under SB 1199, this allocation can be utilized to buy palay directly from local farmers to provide for a total of 4.1 million beneficiaries,” he said.

“Moreover, the bill encourages local government units (LGUs) to purchase rice from local farmers to provide for the rice needs of their hospitals, jails, and other local institutions, as well as feeding programs and calamity-program interventions,” Zubiri said.

As provided by SB 1199, which the lawmaker filed Wednesday, the palay to be distributed to 4Ps beneficiaries shall be primarily purchased from, but not limited to, the local farmers from the following provinces: Pangasinan, Ilocos Norte, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Viscaya, Mindoro Oriental, Mindoro Occidental, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Zamboanga del Sur and Iloilo.

The funds needed to implement the measure shall be sourced solely from the rice subsidy budget provided under the 4Ps in the 2019 General Appropriations Act (GAA).