Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan urged local government units (LGUs) to actively participate in setting a floor price for government purchases of unhusked rice or “palay” to help stabilize prices and boost farmers’ incomes.
He is collaborating with Malacañang and the Department of Agriculture to draft executive orders on minimum floor prices for both wet and dry palay.
Pangilinan clarified that the floor price applies only to government purchases and does not interfere with private sector pricing.
He cited examples from Camarines Sur, Sorsogon, and Valenzuela City, where local government buying initiatives significantly increased farmers’ earnings.
The senator emphasized that setting a floor price could protect farmers from abusive traders who pay prices well below production costs.
Source: PhilNews24 | October 5, 2025
