MANILA – The National Food Authority (NFA) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) are working with local government units to help farmers hit by the pandemic sell their produce at a higher price, Malacañang said on Tuesday.
“Nagtutulungan po ang NFA, ang DA at ang mga lokal na pamahalaan para sila na po ang bumili nang mas, kahit papaano, mas mataas na presyo sa ating mga magsasaka dahil alam natin na napakadaming Pilipino ang nakasandal po sa pagsasaka, lalung-lalo na po ng bigas para sa kanilang hanapbuhay (The NFA and the DA are working with local government units to purchase the produce of farmers so that at least they could buy it at a higher price),” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a virtual presser.
Roque said the DA has a program that provides assistance to the farmers even without the pandemic.
“Maski po walang pandemya, nandiyan na po talaga iyan (So even without the pandemic, they are there),” he said.
Roque noted that the Bayanihan 2 also provides support to farmers through financial assistance or loans.
Under the Bayanihan to Recover As One Act, at least PHP24 billion have been allocated for direct cash or loan interest rate subsidies to farmers, fisherfolk, and other agricultural workers.
DA Secretary William Dar earlier said in a television interview that at least 800,000 farmers will benefit from the new package of assistance.