The Department of Agriculture (DA) has sought the National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) assistance in verifying social media claims that at least three farmers in Nueva Ecija took their own lives due to sharp decreases in palay prices.
Agriculture secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. expressed concern over how some groups are portraying these “unfortunate incidents,” noting that such claims contradict official reports from law enforcement, DA investigations, and statements from the families of the deceased.
“Let us allow them to mourn in peace. We will provide any necessary assistance,” he said as he requested the NBI for a thorough probe to uncover the truth while urging the public to respect the grieving families.
Addressing the ongoing price slump, he highlighted the NFA’s limited budget prevents]ing it from purchasing significant volumes.
The agency buys palay at P18 per kilo for fresh harvests and P24 per kilo for clean, dry grains.
He added that the agency’s regulatory powers have been stripped, hampering its ability to stabilize rice prices through market interventions.
“With restricted authority, the NFA cannot effectively counter market fluctuations, allowing traders to suppress palay prices. As a result, farmgate prices have fallen to as low as P14 per kilo,” he explained.
The DA chief also attributed the local price drop to a global market correction, citing strong global demand amid El Niño-driven shortages and price escalation due to India’s ban on non-basmati rice exports that was lifted in September 2024.
He urged lawmakers to pass reforms granting the DA greater authority to address such issues.
“We are operating with one hand tied behind our back. Some of the NFA’s powers must be restored—if not to the agency itself, then to the DA—to better manage these challenges. The NFA also needs more resources to procure at least 20 percent of the supply to help stabilize market prices,” Tiu Laurel said.
The NFA encouraged Regions I, II, and III to sell their harvests directly to the agency, raising its buying price to P19 per kilo for fresh palay in those areas.
Under its mandate, the NFA must maintain a 15-day rice buffer stock of 555,000 metric tons with plans to secure 880,000 metric tons of palay to meet this requirement.