Senatorial candidate Kiko Pangilinan said the Department of Agriculture’s proposal to establish a floor price for palay was a necessary step to protect Filipino rice farmers and address the country’s deepening food crisis.

“Matagal na nating panawagan ito: siguruhing may sapat na kita ang mga magsasaka para tuloy-tuloy ang produksyon ng pagkain. Ang presyo ng palay ay hindi dapat ibaba sa gastos ng pagtatanim. Pag wala nang kumikita sa pagsasaka, sino pa ang magtatanim para sa atin? (This has long been our call: to ensure that farmers earn enough income so food production can continue. The price of palay should never be lower than the cost of farming. If no one earns from farming anymore, who will grow food for us)?" Pangilinan said on Friday, April 11.

According to reports, the DA is considering a fixed minimum price for palay to shield farmers from unpredictable market swings and unfair trading practices.

The former food security secretary said this must be matched with swift reforms in procurement, logistics, and price monitoring to prevent abuse and ensure farmers truly benefit.

Pangilinan also renewed his call for a certified urgent bill empowering the National Food Authority (NFA) to buy up to 20 percent of the country’s palay supply—echoing the DA’s own legislative recommendation.

He added this would give the government stronger leverage to influence market prices, prevent cartel control, and protect both farmers and consumers.

The former senator stressed that "the NFA should be a weapon against exploitation, not a scapegoat for failed policies. With sufficient funding and a clear mandate, it can truly give value to the farmers’ harvest and ensure affordable rice on every Filipino’s table."

Pangilinan, author of the Sagip Saka Act, emphasized that farmer welfare and food security are not just agricultural issues but economic and moral imperatives.