Palay prices now lower than that of ‘darak’

As palay prices continued to plummet amid the implementation of the Rice Tariffication law, "darak" or rice bran is now valued at a higher price.

According to a report by Lei Alviz in GMA's 24 Oras on Wednesday, palay is sold at P7 to P8 per kilo while darak is valued at P12 per kilo in San Luis, Pampanga.

"Sobrang mura po ng palay, ang ginawa po ng mga magsasaka, inistock na lang po nila sa bahay. Hindi na po nila ibinenta," said miller Rowel Sumat.

Millers in Pakil, Laguna were also forced to increase the prices of darak by P2 per kilo because many farmers decided not to have their harvests milled.

Darak is produced in the process of milling palay. These are sold as feeds for some farm animals such as hogs, ducks, and chickens.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) expressed concern about the decreasing price of palay.

"That’s why kami 'di natutulog na. 24/7 itong trabaho na ito. We’re looking for measures paano natin pababalikin ang farm gate price at P17," said Agriculture Secretary William Dar.

Meanwhile, according to the Department of Trade and Industry, a kilo of regular milled rice is pegged at P35 while well-milled rice costs P40 per kilo.

"Karamihan po ng na-import hindi pa lumalabas sa merkado. Kapag lumabas 'yan bababa 'yung presyo talaga. Dapat kung imported 'yan mas mababa na doon sa P37," Dar said.

The Rice Tariffication Law which liberalized the importation of rice in the Philippines was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte last February.

Many farmers urge the government to suspend its implementation as they claim that the influx of imported rice will kill the local industry. —Dona Magsino/LDF, GMA News