Farmers concerned over loss of subsidy
Iloilo farmers are saddened by reports that the P8 billion National Food Authority rice procurement subsidy has been dropped.
NFA Iloilo Field Office Manager Hedy Jardeleza said farmers in the province will meet shortly to come up with their stand on the matter.
Jardeleza admitted that the government has been losing money because of the rice procurement subsidy, but then she said this has provided some sense of security for the farmers who could turn to the NFA and not taken advantaged by unscrupulous businessmen.
“The farmers, because of the government support price, are protected,” she said.
Jardeleza also said because of the rice procurement subsidy, the Bigasan Barangay Outlets, formerly the Tindahan Natin Outlets, are able to sell rice for a lower price of P25 per kilo to the indigent consumers. The lower price then assures indigent consumers of the staple.
In Western Visayas, there are 635 BBOs selling the government subsidized rice. The BBOs are able to sell rice at a lower price because the NFA sells it at only P23.50 per kilo to them.
The NFA buying price on farmers is P17 per kilo.*PNA
