CLAVERIA, Cagayan — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday announced new government measures to assist rice farmers affected by declining palay prices, including direct financial aid and the imposition of safeguard duties on rice imports to protect local producers.

Speaking before farmers during the “Ugnayan” forum held after the inauguration of the Union Water Impounding Dam in Claveria, Marcos said the National Food Authority (NFA) will expand its palay procurement program to help stabilize farmgate prices.

He said the NFA is currently buying fresh/wet palay at ₱18 to ₱19 per kilo and clean dry palay at ₱21 to ₱23 per kilo, significantly higher than the ₱8 per kilo being offered by some traders.

“Kaya’t palalawakin natin ito at maglalagay din tayo doon sa mga tinamaan sa pagbaba ng presyo ng palay, magbibigay din tayo ng direct na tulong para sa ating mga magsasaka,” the President said.

He added that the government is planning to provide ₱10,000 in cash assistance to farmers who incurred losses due to the sharp decline in palay prices.

“Mayroon tayong pinaplano, tigsa-sampung libo, ‘yung mga nalugi dahil sa pagbagsak ng bilihan ng palay,” he told cheering farmers.

Marcos also said the government would impose safeguard duties on imported rice to prevent excessive importation from depressing local prices.

“Maglalagay tayo ng safeguard duties para sa importasyon para sa pag-import ay hindi masisira naman ang presyo dito sa atin. Dahil ang nagdidikta ng presyo ng bigas ay ‘yung imported rice,” he said.

He warned that unchecked rice importation could hurt local production and farmers’ livelihoods, stressing that the government is closely monitoring the situation.

“Pagka mag-import lang tayo nang mag-import at hindi natin ayusin ang production ay matatamaan ang ating mga farmer… tinitingnan namin lahat ng mga farmer na nalugi dahil nga bumagsak ang presyo ng palay, ay bibigyan po natin ng tulong,” he added.

The President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthen agricultural support programs.

“Alam naman po namin na hindi naman po madali ang buhay ng ating mga magsasaka at kaya’t lahat ng suporta na kaya naming ibigay ay binibigay natin dahil patitibayin natin,” Marcos said.