DA probes traders in 32 Luzon areas buying palay from farmers at very low price

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. on Monday said traders in at least 32 areas in Luzon are being probed for supposedly buying palay from local farmers at a very low price.

During a Palace press briefing, Tiu Laurel was asked if there had been complaints about traders who are supposedly taking advantage of the local farmers.

''Well, mayroon na kaming listahan of areas na identified na talagang mababa ang bili masyado ng traders sa mga farmers. We have 32 locations sa Luzon na nakikita, at iniimbestigahan na ng opisina ng DA kung sino iyong mga traders na bumili na iyon because we have to identify them,'' Tiu Laurel said.

(We have a list of areas wherein we monitored that traders are buying palay at a very low price. We have 32 locations in Luzon and the DA is already investigating this.)

''Basically, may imbestigasyon na nangyayari ngayon,'' he added.

(Basically, there's an investigation that has been ongoing.)

Tiu Laurel, however, did not identify these areas.

Asked if cases would be filed against these traders, Tiu Laurel said there is none at the moment; but, the Department of Agriculture is looking into imposing a floor price in the future.

''Well, technically, wala as of the moment. Pero siyempre, naghahanap kami ng paraan na legally—baka maglabas kami ng policy in the future, pero pinag-aaralan pa ho ito ‘no. But the idea is, set a floor price,'' he said.

(Well, technically, there's none at the moment. But, we are looking for legal ways, maybe we will implement a policy in the future. We're studying this but the idea is to set a floor price.)

''Sa ibang bansa, mayroong mga ganoong patakaran ‘no, like India and other countries,'' Tiu Laurel added.

(In other countries, there's a policy like this.) —AOL, GMA Integrated News