Senators tell DPWH to resolve palay-drying issue

Two senators criticized the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for warning farmers against drying palay and other agriculture products along national highways.

A DPWH order to arrest and fine farmers for drying their palay on national roads is not only insulting but reflects ignorance on the plight of farmers, Senator Francis Pangilinan said Friday.

“If there were public mechanical drying systems, especially those that harness solar energy, our farmers would not dry their palay on cemented roads. Because they know, this is not efficient, that many of their palay get wasted,” the senator said in a statement.

“Where are the post-harvest facilities the government promised? Don’t pick on the small folk, provide solutions for their needs, not only for them but also for all of us they feed,” he added.

He cited a 2010 government study that showed 5.9 percent of harvested palay is wasted because of inefficient drying methods.

If the country’s rice production is 13 million metric tons, 767,000 MT of palay is wasted, according to estimates by the Food and Agriculture Organization.

“If all of that is milled properly without waste, that is equivalent to 767 million kilos of rice. With 100 million Filipinos, each would have more than 7 kilos of rice,” Pangilinan noted.

Senate Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto said it is the government’s duty to see to it that the produce of rice farmers who labor in one of the hardest professions is not wasted.

“‘Yung sa drying, the solutions range from building more drying pavements, to concreting of farm roads, to more mechanical dryers, to the simple distribution of drying mats ...” he said.

“Kung wala ‘yan, doon sa national highway sila mapipilitang magbilad. Ang solusyon ay hindi ikulong at pagmultahin ang mga magsasaka, kundi bigyan sila ng mga alternatibong bilaran,” he added.

He said agriculture must be included in the government’s infrastructure drive, because millions of Filipinos who are poor are dependent on the sector.

“Our farmers can only plant, plant, plant if we build, build, build more farm facilities like irrigation,” Recto said.

Duties from rice tariffication that will replace import restrictions must fund projects and programs that reduce post-harvest losses, the senator noted.

“Kasama ‘yan sa plowback menu na nasa Rice Tariffication Bill na version ng Senado. Sa Senate version, 100 percent ng koleksyon ay ibabalik sa magsasaka sa pamamagitan ng production support, new infrastructure, direct compensation at iba pa,” Recto said.

The DPWH-Western Visayas earlier issued an advisory that drying palay along national roads is punishable by law. 

It cited DPWH Department Orders No. 41 s. 2013, No. 52 s. 2003, and Presidential Decree No. 17 prohibit drying farm produce on public roads.

Section 23 of P.D. No. 17 or the Revised Philippine Highway Act is explicit about this matter:

“It shall be unlawful for any person to usurp any portion of a right-of-way, to convert any part of any public highways, bridge, wharf or trail to his own private use or to obstruct the same in any manner.”

Violators face fines of not more than P1,000 or imprisonment not exceeding six months, according to the DPWH. —VDS, GMA News