Former Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan on Friday voiced full support for the Department of Agriculture’s proposal to set a floor price for palay (unhusked rice), calling it a necessary move to protect Filipino rice farmers and address the country’s worsening food crisis.

“This has long been our call: to ensure that farmers earn enough so that food production continues,” Pangilinan said. “The price of palay should never fall below the cost of planting. If farming is no longer profitable, who will grow food for us?”

According to reports, the DA is studying the possibility of setting a fixed minimum price for palay to protect farmers from erratic market fluctuations and exploitative trading practices. Pangilinan welcomed the move but stressed it must be supported by reforms in procurement, logistics, and price monitoring systems to ensure farmers are the ones who truly benefit.

“Hunger knows no political color. But the solution must be clear: support our farmers and lower food prices,” he said. “Hunger can’t wait — now is the time to bring the nation together at the dinner table.”

Pangilinan also renewed his call for the urgent passage of a bill that would authorize the National Food Authority to purchase up to 20 percent of the country’s palay supply — an idea that aligns with the DA’s own legislative recommendation. He argued that this would strengthen the government’s ability to stabilize prices, prevent cartel manipulation, and protect both producers and consumers.