San Ildefonso, Bulacan — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has assured farmers that the government is exploring ways to increase their income as the harvest season approaches.

Speaking to local farmers in Bulacan, Marcos emphasized that preparations are underway to ensure farmers are equipped and financially ready for the next planting season.

“Ang inaano talaga namin [ay] makatiyak na yung farmer natin ay may sapat na kita para magready na sa next planting season,” he said.

(Our main goal is to make sure that our farmers earn enough to be ready for the next planting season)

He added that the Department of Agriculture and the National Food Authority will provide full support to help ease the burden on farmers.

Marcos revealed that the government is also studying the possibility of introducing a floor price for rice, similar to mechanisms used for crops like tobacco in Ilocos.

“Pinag-aaralan namin na magkaroon ng floor price para wala namang malugi kahit masyadong malikot yung presyo,” he said.

(We are studying the possibility of setting a floor price so that no one suffers losses even if prices become too unstable.)

The President acknowledged the challenges farmers face when fluctuating market prices discourage them from continuing to plant.

Marcos also highlighted the importance of providing more equipment to improve agricultural efficiency.

“Pero pararamihin pa natin, kailangan pa natin [at] makakatulong sa inyo, paramihin pa natin mga equipment,” he said, referring to dryers, rice mills, and warehouses.

(But we will still increase it — we still need more, and it will help you — so we will continue to add more equipment.)

He proposed that local government units donate trucks to farm cooperatives to ease the transport of harvests to NFA warehouses. This, he said, would allow farmers to directly earn from their crops and better prepare for the next cycle.

Additionally, the President floated the idea of using cold storage facilities for rice to maintain quality and help local rice compete with imported varieties stored using similar methods.