THE Provincial Government has allocated P5 million to buy palay at P15 per kilo from farmers having 1 hectare or less of ricefields to address the problem on low price buying of palay.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said that the capitol will start buying palay once the mechanics is ready.
He explained that the P5 million fund was already included in the Annual Investment Plan (AIP) which was recently approved by the Provincial Development Council in their meeting.
The PDC holds its meeting every quarter.
"The P5 million fund will be rolled over and we believe it could help address the problem," Lacson pointed out.
Lacson met yesterday with the concerned officials of agencies involved on the rice problem.
He also revealed that the palay acquired by the province to the farmers will be sold back to the government like the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office or the schools.
"We are fixing the mechanics for buying palay and once it is in place, we will start buying," he assured.
The Department of Agriculture asked for the intervention of the Local Government Units after local rice farmers complained about low price buying of Palay for as low as P7 per kilo.
Lacson said that the National Food Authority is currently buying palay at P20 per kilo however the agency has limited budget.
We're just assisting the NFA," Lacson emphasized.
He also said that the capitol buying of palay will continue for as long as it is needed.
The low buying of Palay is believed to be the effect of the Rice Tariffication Law that allows the coming in of imported and cheaper rice.