MANILA, Philippines — Legislators from the House of Representatives are pushing for a P10-billion supplemental budget for the state-run National Food Authority (NFA) for the procurement of local palay in time for the main harvest season in the fourth quarter. Anakpawis party-list Rep. Ariel Casilao said a joint resolution would be filed at the House, allocating additional budget for the grains agency to buy more local palay at a higher price. “The intention is to procure additional palay worth P10 billion, which is about 700,000 metric tons of palay in favor of local farmers at P22 per kilogram,” Casilao told reporters. “The timing of the proposal falls under the harvest season where you expect supply to be available. The NFA starts buying during the summer harvest season but bulk of the procurement volume is expected to be bought starting October until December as the main harvest season contributes 70 percent to the country’s total annual harvest.

Source: Philippine Star September 09, 2018 15:32 UTC