Ilocos Norte board oks P35M for palay purchase

By Leilanie G. Adriano

Staff reporter

LAOAG CITY—The Ilocos Norte government through the members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan unanimously approved the reprograming of about PHP35 million for the purchase of palay and rice in the province.

Starting this month, the Ilocos Norte government will be buying local palay harvest or rice supply from qualified traders and farmer-recipients here under the so-called “buy-back” scheme.

Based on the memorandum of agreement entered into between Ilocos Norte Governor Ma. Imelda Josefa “Imee” R. Marcos and qualified palay/rice traders and farmers here, the provincial government shall buy some of their stocks at fair market value to ensure every household in the province will have sufficient rice supply until the year end.

Qualified traders are those engaged in palay or rice trading which maybe sole proprietorship, partnerships, cooperatives, or private organizations. Farmer-recipients also include individual farmers or accredited farmers organizations in various parts of the province.

While the province is still under a state of calamity, the governor initiated this move to anticipate rice shortage caused by typhoon Mangkhut [Ompong] where it reported around PHP1.9 billion damages mostly in agriculture sector.

“The palay and rice buy-back scheme is also expected to enhance the livelihood of local residents in order to minimize the adverse effects of typhoon Ompong,” said SP member Domingo Ambrocio, chair of the committee on agriculture in passing the said resolution on October 2, 2018.

As incentive to those who will engage in this buy-back program, the provincial government assured farmer-recipients to provide incentives to them such as the provision of free farming inputs like rice seeds, fertilizers and other agricultural necessities.

Earlier, the provincial board passed an ordinance prohibiting the delivery, removal or any act of transferring rice outside the province.

The measure, certified as “urgent” by Ms. Marcos, aims to secure stable rice supply in the province as it copes with the damages brought by typhoon Mangkhut.

In anticipation of an impending rice shortage up to December this year, Mr. Ambrocio explained it has been a recurring issue that there is an abrupt price increase on rice when the supply is depleted.

To prevent rice shortage and unstable prices, he said the provincial government has to exercise its police power to ensure that palay harvest, stocks and supply should be kept in the province under the rice procurement program to benefit both farmer-producers and consumers.

“The anti-rice shortage ordinance shall take effect immediately within the 120 days after each calamity such as a typhoon signal no. 3 typhoon or a 6.0 magnitude earthquake,” said Mr. Ambrocio.

Anyone found violating said ordinance shall be ordered to return the rice products to its warehouse or stores at its own expense.