CABANATUAN CITY, Oct. 18 -- The National Food Authority (NFA) is optimistic that it can begin purchasing storm-damaged palay (unhusked rice) from local farmers within the month to help those affected by recent typhoons.

NFA Administrator Larry Lacson said the agency is awaiting the completion of the Technical Working Group's (TWG) review of the draft executive order on emergency palay procurement.

"Ang target nila (Their target is) within the month. Sabi ko kasi dapat within the month kasi baka lumagpas, ma-overtake-an na naman tayo ng event, baka wala na tayong mahabol (I said that it must be within the month because we might be overtaken by another eventuality, making it difficult to catch up)," Lacson said in an interview on Friday....