Negros Oriental LGUs to give P5 top-up to NFA palay buying price

DUMAGUETE CITY – Two local government units (LGUs) in Negros Oriental have committed to give a PHP5 a kilo top-up to the palay buying price of the National Food Authority (NFA), an agency official said on Tuesday.

Benilda Fidel, NFA-Negros Oriental manager, said the cities of Tanjay and Canlaon would be signing a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with them to help subsidize rice farmers under the Palay Marketing Assistance Program for Legislators and Local Government Units (PALLGU).

However, both LGUs are still waiting for their city councils' endorsement before signing a MOA with NFA.

Fidel met with Canlaon City Mayor Jose Chubasco Cardenas and farmers’ groups on Tuesday where an agreement was reached for the LGU to provide a PHP5 per kilo add-on to the PHP19 a kilo buying price of NFA for palay.

A total of PHP1 million will be shelled out for an equivalent of 4,000 bags of rice or 200,000 kilos for the local subsidy, she told the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

“This has yet to be approved by the city council, but in essence, this is something to look forward to because the body has given the mayor the authority to enter into an agreement with the NFA,” she added.

Meanwhile, Fidel said she also met with the Agriculture and Fisheries Council of Tanjay City on Monday to finalize the premium it would add to the NFA’s buying price of palay.

The Tanjay LGU has committed PHP500,000 to cover 100,000 kilos or 2,000 bags of rice, or a top-up of PHP5 a kilo, Fidel said.

This, however, has to be endorsed by the Tanjay city council first before the mayor can sign a MOA with NFA and the funds downloaded, she added. (PNA)