CITY OF MALOLOS, Bulacan — The local government of this city headed by Mayor Christian D. Natividad and the National Food Authority officials (NFA) have signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) on Thursday afternoon (May 4) to buy locally produced palay.
The Malolos City Information Office head Regemrei P. Bernardo said on Friday the MOA signing was led by Mayor Natividad and NFA officials Acting Branch Manager of NFA Bulacan Jimmy Mallari.
According to Natividad during media interview, it added that “Republic Act 11203 o Rice Trade Liberilatization Law na nagmamandato sa NFA na magkaroon ng sapat na supply ng bigas na magmumula sa mga lokal na magsasaka.”
Currently the NFA buys clean and dry palay at P19 per kilo that is lower compared to the palay prices of private commercial rice traders that buy rice crops from P20-P24.50 per kilo depending on its qualities and varieties.
Acting Branch Manager of NFA Bulacan Jimmy Mallari has confirmed that under the MOA, the city government of Malolos has allocated P1,000,000 under the program wherein P3.00 per kilo will be infused to the P19.00 per kilo NFA buying price that eventually translate P22.00 per kilo.
The agreement was based on the grains agency Palay Marketing Assistance Program for Legislators and Local Government Units (PALLGU).
Under the program, the legislators or heads of LGUs shall enter into a marketing agreement with NFA where the former shall provide a premium amount, which shall be added to the existing government buying price of palay currently pegged at P19 per kilogram.
Natividad added “Bukod sa tulong pinansyal, magbibigay din ang Pamahalaang Lungsod ng bagong kaalaman at modernong teknolohiyang makakatulong sa mga magsasakang Malolenyo na maitaas pa ang rice production at magdadagdag din ang kanilang kita.”
Source: Ramon Efren Lazaro
