July 2025 — Philippines
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has a message for Filipino farmers:
“Don’t worry — the government will keep buying your rice harvest at a good price!”
Even though the price of rice in stores has dropped because of the government’s P20-per-kilo rice program, President Marcos promised that palay (that’s what we call rice before it’s milled and polished) won’t be bought at super low prices anymore.
💰 What’s the Government Doing?
President Marcos said that the National Food Authority (NFA) will still buy palay from farmers at these prices:
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P18 per kilo for wet or fresh palay
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P19 to P23 per kilo for clean and dry palay
Even if rice prices drop in the market, the NFA will not lower its buying prices from farmers.
🗣️ “Kahit bumaba ang presyo ng bigas, hindi bababa ang presyo ng palay na bibilhin namin sa inyo,” Marcos said in his weekend video message.
😟 What’s the Problem Farmers Are Facing?
Some farmers in Pangasinan said they’ve had to sell:
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Wet palay at just ₱9–₱10 per kilo
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Dry palay at only ₱14–₱15 per kilo
Last year, they were able to sell for ₱18 to ₱24 per kilo, so this year’s drop is making it hard for them to earn enough.
In some places, the NFA even saw palay being bought for as low as ₱11.50 per kilo!
🛠️ Why Is This Happening?
President Marcos explained:
Many farmers can’t dry their palay. They harvest it, and it’s still wet. Because they can’t dry it themselves, they’re forced to sell quickly, and traders offer low prices.
So the government is solving that by:
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Building rice processing centers
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Giving hundreds of rice dryers to farmers
With dryers, farmers can dry their palay, store it, and choose when and where to sell it. That means they won’t be rushed into selling at low prices anymore.
“Kapag may dryer na ang farmer, hindi na siya mapipilitang ibenta ang palay niya sa presyong palugi,” Marcos said.
🧑🌾 What Other Leaders Are Saying
Senator Kiko Pangilinan, who used to be Agriculture Secretary, also spoke up.
He said some farmers are losing money because they spend ₱14–₱15 to produce one kilo of palay, but traders are buying it for only ₱13!
“That’s not fair. That’s not right. That’s not humane,” he said.
He asked the NFA and local government units (LGUs) to:
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Immediately buy rice and vegetables from farmers
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Use the Sagip Saka Law, which lets LGUs buy produce without public bidding
“May batas. May paraan. May pondo. Gamitin ito,” Kiko added.
(There’s a law, a way, and funds. Let’s use them!)
🚛 More Trucks to Help Farmers
The NFA is getting more trucks to help farmers, especially in areas where prices are low:
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Already bought: 14 trucks
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Plan for 2025: 90 trucks
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Plan by 2028: 600 trucks total
These trucks will pick up palay from farmers and take them to government warehouses with lots of space.
🌾 What’s Next for the NFA?
The Department of Agriculture and the NFA are also planning to:
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Buy at least 300,000 metric tons of rice this year
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Hit a new record in rice production
The NFA’s job is to:
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Make sure there’s enough rice in the country
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Buy rice from local farmers
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Keep rice fresh and safe in their storage facilities
They’re working hard to protect both farmers and consumers.
✅ The Big Picture
The government wants to make sure:
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Farmers are paid fairly for their hard work
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Consumers get affordable rice
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No one loses in the process
With more dryers, trucks, and support, the goal is clear:
Help Filipino farmers earn more — while feeding the nation.
