MALOLOS, May 26 -- The Department of Agriculture (DA), through the National Food Authority (NFA), has resumed palay (unhusked rice) procurement to support local farmers amid low traders' prices in Bulacan and other parts of the country.

This came as traders' prices hit as low as PHP11.50 per kilogram of wet palay, below the estimated production cost of PHP12/kg to PHP14/kg.

Reynaldo Manliclic, 56, a local farmer, lauded the government's move as it motivates them to continue rice farming despite the activities of some unscrupulous traders.

"Napakalaking tulong sa aming magsasaka gawa ng mataas ang presyo ng NFA kumpara sa labas kaya dito kami pumupunta. Kasi kung sa labas kami pupunta sa traders, talagang lugi (It's a huge help for us f...