MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Thursday called on rice farmers to report abusive traders who are allegedly using President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s Benteng Bigas Meron Na program as an excuse to buy palay at unreasonably low prices.

Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro urged affected farmers not to fear and to bring their complaints to the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), or the Department of Justice (DOJ).

“Sabihin lamang po sa amin sa DA, sa DILG, sa DOJ at kami po ang magde-demanda sa mga traders na umaabuso. Sa mga farmers natin, sa mga magsasaka natin, huwag po kayong matakot,” Castro said during a Palace briefing.

“Basta lamang kumpletuhin ninyo ang inyong mga ebidensiya hangga’t maaari, para po ito ay maging dahilan sa amin para sila ay habulin at idemanda. Maaari po kasi itong maging kaso na economic sabotage,” she added.

The statement came in response to concerns that the expansion of the government’s rice subsidy program might prompt traders to buy palay at exploitative rates, claiming that prices are being affected by the increased government purchases.

“Iyan po ang ginagawa yatang dahilan ng mga traders para bumili nang mas mura na palay mula sa mga farmers. Iyan po ay walang katotohanan ayon sa DA dahil mas bumibili sila ng marami na palay nang hindi makakaapekto sa presyo, pagbili ng NFA sa mga farmers,” Castro said.

The Department of Agriculture earlier identified 32 areas in Luzon where such unfair trade practices were reported. The agency is studying the implementation of a “floor price” for palay to protect farmers from being underpaid.